Trail encounter
The Leonids are the debris of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. Every 33 years or so, the comet returns to the inner solar system and releases material that forms into a new dust trail. The Earth’s passage right through the centre of trails is associated with the most spectacular meteor displays (studies show that, as well as how close to the centre of the trail you are, the strength of the display also depends on how far along a trail’s length you are). For example, in 2001 November and again in 2002 November, the Earth passed very near the centre of the trail released at the 1866 return (i.e. 4 revolutions of the comet ago), as well as near other trails, producing meteor storms.
In 2006, on November 19th, the Earth passes very close to the centre of the trail created at the comet’s 1932 return (i.e. 2 revolutions ago), as can be seen in the schematic plot by David Asher. More detail of the Leonid stream’s cross section encountered by the Earth in 2006 can be found from Jeremie Vaubaillon’s computer modelling. The encounter with the 1932 trail will lead to enhanced meteor activity: a nice outburst, but below storm level.

More here

Email this Post  | RSS 2.0  |  Trackback  |  Filed under: Miscellaneous