2011 Leonid meteor shower

2011 Leonid meteor shower

Earth is passing through the debris field of Comet Tempel-Tuttle, parent of the annual Leonid meteor shower. Barring a direct hit by a filament of dust, which forecasters consider unlikely, this year’s shower should be mild. Peak rates of 10 to 20 meteors per hour are

Halley’s Comet to put on meteor show next week

Halley’s Comet to put on meteor show next week

If you step outside before dawn during the next week or so, you might try to catch a view of some “cosmic litter” that has been left behind in space by Halley’s Comet: the Orionid meteor shower.The Orionids can best be described as a junior version of the famous

A bright meteor lit up the night sky above Atlanta

A bright meteor lit up the night sky above Atlanta

A bright meteor lit up the night sky above Atlanta on Sunday, August 28, 2011, in a dazzling display caught by NASA cameras. The meteor streaked over Atlanta, Ga., and its surrounding cities at the mind-blowing speed of about 52,800 mph (84,970 kph). NASA's…