The INDsider -> Mary Tutwiler MON, NOV 16 11:38AM by Mary Tutwiler

Stardust

Up on the roof. That’s where you should be after midnight when this year’s Leonid meteor shower streaks across the skies. The prosaic explanation for a meteor shower is that space dust from a passing comet burns when it passes through Earth’s atmosphere. The poet’s depiction: shooting stars. The Leonid meteor shower, associated with the celestial dust of the Tempel-Tuttle comet, produces an especially brilliant show that stargazers look forward to each November.

If the skies are clear, this year should light up the skies with 20 to 30 meteors per hour, however, weather.com is predicting partly cloudy skies and a low of 45 degrees. But who ever believes the weather predictions? You might as well gaze into a crystal ball. Best bet: Grab a lawn chair, a sleeping bag, point your toes east toward the constellation Leo, whence the Leonids get their name, and watch for the heavenly lights from around 3 a.m till dawn. I’m betting on a starry night.

Photo courtesy of NASA

Articles by this Author:

View all articles by this author

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

You must be logged in to post a comment. Log in using your Facebook account or register if you do not have an account yet.

Most Read

David Calhoun, ‘EB’ Brooks join Lafayette Central Park

David Calhoun and Elizabeth “EB” Brooks are the first two employees of Lafayette Central Park Inc., the nonprofit charged with turning Lafayette Consolidated Government’s 100-acre Johnston Street Horse Farm property into a passive public park. Calhoun was named executive director, and Brooks is director of planning and design.
Update: PXP creating 600 jobs averaging 100k

At Thursday's State of the Economy luncheon, LEDA President and CEO Gregg Gothreaux said PXP has already quietly hired 180 people for its Broussard expansion.
Zachary Barker takes helm of the Opportunity Machine

Zachary Barker continues making waves in Lafayette’s business scene, mostly recently being named director of the Opportunity Machine.
Remembering Ricky Rees

The veteran police officer remembered by friends for his large and small acts of kindness will be laid to rest Wednesday.
Shakin' at the Shack

There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.

in case you missed it

COOL TOWN 2013

This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A curious compact

A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
Pooyie 2012

It's good, it's bad and it's just plain crazy.
Saving Saturday Night

An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Posthaste vs. HART FORTENBERY

Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.