5 Tips for Viewing the November 2010 Leonid Meteor Shower

The annual Leonid Meteor Shower will make an appearance during the middle part of November. Each year the Earth passes through ice and rock debris left behind by Comet Tempel-Tuttle. But, you do not have to worry about large rocks crashing down to Earth during the November Leonid Meteor Shower. The ice and rock debris left behind by this comet are like tiny grains of sand. Yet, when they strike the Earth's atmosphere, the burn up into a speck of ionized ash, leaving behind a bright trail that last a few seconds high in the Earth's atmosphere. The bright trails left behind by the Leonids Meteor shower can be viewed for miles around, and may even be bright enough to be seen in larger cities, where light pollution dominates the night sky.

Here are some tips that will help you get the most out of viewing the annual November Leonid Meteor Shower.

1. Go out Late to see the November Leonid Meteor Showers
Light from the shining moon will hinder the dark night sky needed for viewing the November Leonid Meteor Shower. The Moon will be nearing a the Full Harvest Moon, and for most areas, the Moon will be setting late at night. The best chances for dark skies will be during the early morning hours, before sunrise, and after the moon has set.

2. Find a dark spot to view the November Leonid Meteor Showers
Get out and away from the city lights. You may have to get in your car and find a dark spot away from any lights. Avoid areas with any street lights and houses nearby. You should look for a dark open field which leads to the next tip.

3. Find an open spot to watch the November Leonid Meteor Showers
An area with an open view will provide the most open sky for you. The more open the sky is, the better your chances are for seeing a shooting star from the November Leonid Meteor shower. Check the weather forecast, and make sure you are going out on a clear night. Clouds will obstruct your view of the meteor shower.

4. Dress warm to see a shooting star from the November Meteor shower.
Winter is approaching. While most areas of the country have not has their first snow, it will still be chilly out in the frosty night air. Bring along an extra blanket or two to help keep you warm. If you are in the southern hemisphere, then you are lucky, as summer is on the way.

5. Bring a reclining Lawn Chair to watch the November Leonid Meteor Showers
Spending an hour or two looking up at the sky can hurt your neck. So bring along a reclining lawn chair. It will make your viewing experience much more enjoyable, especially if you are able to snuggle up with your significant other. You can also lay out blankets on the ground to stretch out even more.

Finding the Leonid Meteor Showers
Shooting stars from the November 2010 Leonid Meteor Shower will be visible across the entire sky. However, you can maximize the amount of meteors that you see by looking at certain portions of the night sky. The Big Dipper is one of the more recognizable constellations, and look for the edge of the dipper. The two stars that form the end of the dipping portion of the Big dipper point directly to the North Star, known as Polaris, slightly above and to the right of the end of the Big Dipper. Once you find Polaris, track downwards and you will come to Leo.

So get into the cold November night and catch a falling star make a wish or two when you view the 2010 November Leonid Meteor Shower!