Meteors to light Kolkata skies on Nov 17 & 18

Kolkata, Nov 13: Universe's natural fireworks will light up Kolkata's night skies on Nov 17 and Nov 18 as it is expected to witness one of the most brilliant meteor showers that the cosmos has to offer.

"The Leonid meteor shower, the most prominent of meteor showers that occur from time to time will peak on November 17 and early November 18 at around 0300 hrs," said M P Birla Planetarium Director Debiprosad Duari.

As the earth passes through the cometary debris of periodic comet P-55/Temple Tuttle around mid-Nov every year, the showers will be on display in Asia and parts of eastern Europe between Nov 13 to Nov 20.

"As the night progresses, the number of meteors is expected to rise and if the forecast timings are accurate, may peak between 0304 hrs and 0314 hrs in the early hours of November 18 numbering hundreds per hour. But this time the meteors will be much faster and of short duration," Duari added.

OneIndia News