A Cosmic Wonder: Earth Meets the Leonid Meteors

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Alexandria—On 19 November 2006, Earth will pass through a concentration of space debris, shed by Comet Temple-Tuttle. A strong meteor shower is expected as a result, with peak activity of over 100 meteors per hour, visible from parts in Western Europe and Western Africa. A conspicuous meteor display would be observable from Egypt in the predawn hours.

The meteors will appear to be streaking from a particular point in the sky, termed the radiant. The radiant will be located above the crescent Moon.

You do not need any optical aid (a telescope or binocular) to observe the meteors. They can be observed with the unaided eye, but the observer is rather recommended to perform the observation from a dark site, away from urban light pollution.

The PSC organizes an expedition to the Siwa Oasis to observe the celestial showpiece.

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