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Scientists at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center have announced the results of calculations of meteor rates for the Leonid meteor shower and suggest that up to 2000 Leonids per hour will be visible to the naked eye. The Leonid meteor storms happen when Earth plows through streams of dusty debris shed by comet 55/P Tempel-Tuttle. At present the Earth is heading for two such streams. "We'll collide with both of them on Tuesday morning, Nov. 19th," says Bill Cooke, of the Space Environments Team. "The first cloud will cause a flurry of meteors over Europe at about 0400 UT. We expect sky watchers in the countryside (away from bright city lights) to see between 500 and 1000 Leonids per hour."
Earth will enter the second cloud about six hours later (1030 UT) and cause an even bigger outburst over North America. "Observers here in the United States could see as many as 2000 per hour," he predicts.
Other parts of the world will be sprinkled with Leonids, too, but nothing like Europe or North America. If the predictions are correct, observers in Asia, Australia, South America and much of Africa will count no more than a few dozen bright meteors in a one-hour span.
The best view of the Leonid meteors, however, will be from above on the International Space Station. "The ISS will be flying over Europe during the first outburst," explains Rob Suggs, leader of the Space Environments Team. "Then it will pass over North America during the second outburst. Perfect timing!" Astronauts looking out the station's windows could spot more meteors than anyone else.
The position of the Moon will, however, threaten to spoil the Leonid show for Earth-bound observers. In Europe and Europe and in western parts of North America, the Moon will be high in the sky when the Leonids arrive. The light from the Moon, together with dust and moisture in the atmosphere will make many of the faintest meteors difficult to see. The best viewing conditions, say NASA, will be best in the dry desert conditions.
More info: NASA Leonid Information
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