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As you do your Christmas shopping and plan feasts for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, cast your eyes upon the universe's natural fireworks.
Astronomers anticipate two meteor showers this November and December.
Nov. 17: Leonid Meteor Shower
- After years of heavier-than-average showers, the famous Leonids have returned and are expected to peak on Nov. 17 in the pre-dawn hours. These meteors are fast (about 40 miles per second) and can leave trails of smoke, according to Astronomy.com. They will appear to radiate from the constellation Leo the Lion. "Many Leonids are also bright. Usually, the meteors are white or bluish-white, but in recent years some observers reported yellow-pink and copper-colored ones," according to the website.
Dec. 13: Geminid Meteor Shower
- The last shooting star cluster before New Year's is the Geminid Meteor Shower, expected to peak in the pre-dawn hours after midnight between Dec. 13 and Dec. 15. They will be visible in all parts of the sky and streak through the sky at more than 50 meteors per hour, almost a meteor a minute, according to EarthSky.com. The new moon is expected to fall on Dec. 13, making for optimal dark skies—as long as you avoid city lights and clouds, the website states.
Be sure to schedule a night this season to bundle up, lay out some blankets (if it's dry) and enjoy the light show in the sky.
Share your tips for photographing the showers. Tell us your favorite places to sneak off to view the skies.
