But they differ greatly in the meteor rates expected. They also predict that these peaks on the 18th will be unimpressive, with only a few dozen meteors visible per hour. Keep a vigil from about 1 a.m. local time until the first light of dawn. If G ckel and Jehn are right, the November 17th shower will be about half as strong as last year's great Leonid storm over Europe and Africa, when rates briefly reached one meteor per second. Unfortunately, the last-quarter Moon will be quite bright.
North is up.
A comet discovered more than a year ago has finally brightened to easy visibility in binoculars. About magnitude 8.5, the comet is moving slowly northeastward through Centaurus this month. Observers north of the equator will get their chance for a view during December and the first few months of 2001. Then only 15th magnitude, the comet was quickly found to be following a path tipped 80 degrees to the ecliptic. The ephemeris below is based on Brian G. Marsden's orbital elements published on Minor Planet Circular 41158.