The Leonid Meteor Shower Is Tonight

Meteor Shower November 2009: Fire in the sky.

The Leonid meteor shower is back again, and that means nature has its own version of a fireworks show planned for spectators. And as long as the weather stays clear, tonight is one of the best nights to check it out.

Named the Leonids because they appear to come from the Leo constellation, the meteors are actually fragments of the comet Temple-Tuttle, which burn up as they enter the Earth's atmosphere.

It is among the most popular of meteor showers around the world because of how spectacular the show is. Tonight, when the shower is at its fullest over Asia, it is expected there will be 300 to 400 meteors and hour.

Unfortunately, you're going to have to stay up late to see them. North Americans on either coast have the best chance of seeing a good show (30 to 40 an hour) anytime after 1 am.

So go grab someone who'll keep you warm, get on outside during the witching hour tonight, find a nice dark spot away from the city lights and gaze upwards for the annual celestial show. Hollywood has nothing on Mother Nature.