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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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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