Leonid Meteor Shower Peaking Nov. 17

Did you miss the Taurid Meteor Show of Nov. 12? Don't fret, astronomers anticipate two more meteor showers to take place over the next month, and perhaps, weather permitting, you can find an open space locally where you can view the skies (with little to no extraneous light) such as a park or even your own back yard to witness the light shows:

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 and enjoy the light show in the sky. 

Share your tips for photographing the showers, and tell us your favorite place in Stone Mountain or Lithonia to view the skies.