Léonides

The léonides are shooting stars which one can in general observe in November.

The léonides are caused by the passage of a Comet, the Comet Tempel-Tuttle which has one 33 years period. With each passage, the comet leaves a rock remains trail which forms a swarm that the Ground crosses every year around November. The Radian being located in the constellation of the Lion, one thus calls the meteors “léonides”. The influence of comet on the shooting stars observed is thus important. One thus witnesses true rains of meteorites when the comet has just passed. One thus observed them in 1966 then in 1999. Being given time that puts the swarm to disperse, it was also possible to observe many meteors in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Next the very large rain is thus announced towards 2032. This time the comet will pass very close to the Earth.

See too

list of the meteoritic swarms

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