Australians have been warned that they will be able to easily see the night sky as the annual Leonid meteor shower reaches its peak this week.
After midnight, these meteors travel through the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of 70 kilometers per second, and Australians are said to be able to see them very clearly.
Michael Brown, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Monash University, noted that the Leonids are very bright.
The Leonid meteor shower will be visible in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and viewers can expect to see an average of 15 meteors per hour.
It will not be a continuous meteor shower and it will be possible to see a meteor every few minutes, said Professor Michael Brown.
The Leonid meteor shower will appear in the eastern sky in the hours after midnight this week and will be visible until dawn.
To get the best view of the meteors, the professor also advises to choose a remote, dark place away from the bright lights of the city.
The Leonid meteor shower occurs every year and is said to reach peak visibility in mid-November.
