The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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November 8, 2008

Conditions are not favorable to see Leonid meteor shower

by Bob Killam

Phases of the moon for November are:

• Nov. 13: Full moon (Hunter’s Moon, Frosty Moon, Beaver Moon).

• Nov. 19: Last quarter.

• Nov. 27: New moon.

The early morning hours until sunrise Nov. 17 and 18 will give us the Leonid meteor shower, and it looks like a very unfavorable year for this sometimes huge shower, but en-hanced activity is possible. The waning gibbous moon will be problematic at this time.

Leonids approach Earth virtually head-on, so they have extremely swift, often bright and persistent trains. The Leonids’ parent comet is 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.

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Leonardo’s Star Quest Astronomy Club meets the second Tuesday night of the month at Leonardo’s Discov-ery Warehouse and the fourth Tuesday at Northern Okla-homa College Enid observatory. Sessions start at 7.

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Every Wednesday and Thursday, weather permitting, the NOC observatory will open to the general public. Sessions start at 7 p.m. Large groups planning to visit should call 548-2399 to schedule an appointment.



Killam is resident astronomer and astronomical league coordinator for Leonardo’s Star Quest Astronomy Club and a Northern Oklahoma College adjunct faculty member serving as director of NOC observatory.

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