Leonid meteor shower peaks this week

Mid-November night skies in Kamloops and the Okanagan will see a return of the annual Leonid meteor shower.

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada says the Leonids should peak tonight, Nov. 17.

The Leonids are known for some of the most interesting meteor displays lighting up our night sky over the years, but according to space.com, the 2020 version of the Leonids is not expected to be particularly active.

However, Canadian meteor forecasters Margaret Campbell-Brown and Peter Brown suggest the Leonids could provide rates of up to 20 meteors per hour at or before sunrise.

The Leonids get their name from the spot from which the meteors seem to fan out, located in the constellation of Leo, the Lion on the southeast horizon.

The meteors, which are caused by the comet Tempel-Tuttle, can produce some bright and spectacular fireballs. This year’s best viewing times are expected after 4 a.m., with Environment Canada calling for cloudy skies overnight tonight.

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