TYPES OF METEOR

A meteor is the visible path of a meteoroid that enters the Earth's (or another body's)
atmosphere, commonly called a shooting star or falling star. For bodies with a size scale larger
than the atmospheric mean free path (10 cm to several meters) the visibility is due to the heat
produced by the ram pressure (not friction, as is commonly assumed) of atmospheric entry. A
meteor is a bright streak of light we see in the clear and dark sky. It is produced when a piece of
interplanetary debris enter the earth‘s atmosphere at great speed. The piece of debris while in
space is called a meteoroid. Meteors occur continuously. Since the majority of meteors are from
small sand-grain size meteoroid bodies, most visible signatures are caused by dexcitation
following the individual collisions between vaporized meteor atoms and atmospheric
constituents.

A meteor shower, some of which are known as a "meteor storm", "meteor outburst", or
"shooting star", is a celestial event where a group of meteors are observed to radiate from one
point in the sky. These meteors are small fragments of cosmic debris entering Earth's atmosphere
at extremely high speed. They vaporize due to friction with the air, leaving a streak of light that
very quickly disappears. For bodies with a size scale larger than the atmospheric mean free path
(10 cm to several metres) this visible light is due to the heat produced by the ram pressure (not
friction, as is commonly assumed) of atmospheric entry. Most of the small fragments of cosmic
debris are smaller than a grain of sand, so almost all fragments disintegrate and never hit the
earth's surface. Fragments which do contact Earth's surface are called meteorites. Some meteor
showers are unexpected. Others are annual.

There are many types of meteor shower. One of that is the Leonid meteor. The Leonid
meteor shower is an annual meteor shower that is extremely regular in its timing and can
potentially be visible for days in the mid-autumn sky, depending on weather and location. The
Leonid meteor shower is named after the constellation Leo, which is located in roughly the same
point of the night sky where the Leonid meteor shower appears to originate from. The source of
the Leonid meteor shower is actually debris from the comet Tempel-Tuttle. Every year, the earth
passes through the debris cloud left by the comet as sand-sized specks enter the earth's
atmosphere producing a spectacular show of "falling stars." This year's Leonids meteor shower
peaks on November 17. While the Leonids have been by comparison more spectacular in the
recent past, a nearly full moon in 2010 may set the scene for challenges to the amateur
astronomer. 21:40 UT (or Greenwich Mean Time) on November 17th is predicted as Leonid
prime time viewing over Europe. In North America, Canada and US East Coast residents will
have the best viewing in the dark southeastern sky expected sometime after midnight on
November 17 and peaking between 3:30 and 5:30 am ET. The best place to observe the Leonid
meteor shower (or any meteor shower for that matter), is somewhere dark, away from light
pollution, and with the moon out of the field of vision. The less light visible, the more brilliant
the meteor shower will be.
 Leonid meteor

The second type is the Geminid meteor. The Geminid meteor shower is an annual meteor
shower that is extremely regular in its timing and can potentially be visible for days in the late-
autumn sky, depending on weather and location. The Geminid meteor shower is named after the
constellation Gemini, which is located in roughly the same point of the night sky where the
Geminid meteor shower appears to originate from. In late autumn or early winter, that means
viewing the spectacular light show with eyes pointed straight up in the night sky. Geminids are
pieces of debris from 3200 Phaethon, basically a rocky skeleton of a comet that lost most of it
outer covering of ice after too many close encounters with the sun. Each December, Earth passes
through the debris cloud left by the comet as sand-sized specks enter the earth's atmosphere
producing a spectacular show of "falling stars." Beginning in early December, the Geminid
meteor shower reaches its zenith on the nights of December 13 and 14, with a predicted peak just
after midnight on December 14 on the US East Coast (or about 9PM Pacific time on December
13). 5 UT (or Greenwich Mean Time) on November 13th is predicted as Geminid prime time
viewing over Europe. In North America, Canada and US East Coast residents will have the best
viewing that night into the wee hours on the 14th, but as Geminids are a "long tail" event, expect
additional views growing less spectacular several days or nights after the peak. While the
Geminids have been comparatively a non-event in the last century, they have grown more
spectacular in the recent past and this year is no exception With a waning moon to aid in
optimum viewing (weather depending) watch for a clear view of of up to 140 meteors an hour at
its peak. The best place to observe the Geminid meteor shower (or any meteor shower for that
matter), is somewhere dark, away from light pollution, and with the moon out of the field of
vision. The less light visible, the more brilliant the meteor shower will be.

Geminid meteor
 The third type of meteor shower is the Orionid meteor. Every year in the early morning
Autumn sky comes a spectacular celestial show put on by the annual Orionid meteor shower.The
Orionids usually occur from October 17 - 25 and in 2010 are scheduled to peak during the early
morning hours of October 21 and October 22. Since there is a full moon during peak viewing in
2010 - and depending on other factors like light pollution or weather - catching sight of the
annual spectacular may prove a challenge for some. The Orionids are truly a universal
entertainment, since the shower's radiant point is close to the celestial equator. That means in
both the northern and southern hemispheres astronomers (amateur and otherwise) can sit back
and enjoy the show. In the night sky, Orionid meteors stream from what appears to be the elbow
of Orion the Hunter in the Orion constellation. Named for astronomer Edmond Halley, Halley's
Comet makes a visit to our inner solar system approximately every 76 years. Each time the
famous comet swings by the sun, ice and bits of rocks are evaporated and bits of debris are sent
flying off into space. Although most are not bigger than a speck of sand, they result in a brilliant
show as they hit the atmosphere at some 90,000 mph. It is the comet remnants that stay behind
which are responsible for the annual Orionid display. The Orionids is the second of two showers
that occur annually (the first being the Eta Aquarids) as a result of dust released by Halley's
Comet. Today, the best place to observe the Orionid meteor shower (or any meteor shower for
that matter), is somewhere dark, away from light pollution, and with the moon out of the field of
vision. The less light visible, the more brilliant the meteor shower will be.

Orionid meteor
 The Taurids are an annual meteor shower associated with the comet Encke. They are
named after their radiant point in the constellation Taurus, where they are seen to come from in
the sky. Because of their occurrence in late October and early November, they are also called
Halloween fireballs. Typically, Taurids appear at a rate of about 7 per hour, moving slowly
across the sky at about 17 miles per second (27 kilometers per second), or 65,000 miles per hour.
If large enough, these meteors may become bolides, with spectacular light shows and even
audible sound. These meteors will be seen streaking across the sky emanating from the
constellation Taurus. The Taurids are not a major meteor shower, but they should turn out 5 to
12 meteors per hour during their peak or about 1 or 2 meteors every 10 minutes. The Taurids are
known for being easy to plot and track because they move across the sky relatively slower than
other meteors do. Their brightness and comparative slowness makes them easier to photograph
as well. When viewing a Taurids meteor one should trace their backward path to the
constellation Taurus, in other words the meteors would seemingly appear to have originated from
this constellation.

Taurids meteor
 The most famous meteor showers are notably regular in their timing, with peak viewing
times usually limited to a "one night only" spectacular. However, some meteor showers can
potentially be visible for days depending on weather and location. The best time to view meteor
showers are from midnight to the predawn hours when the sky is at its darkest, and the contrast
greatest between the night sky and the streaks of light swiftly passing by. The less light visible,
the more brilliant the meteor shower will appear, and a prime location out in the suburbs or
countryside is always preferable to urban areas where bright city lights will impair viewing.
While mostly viewable to the naked eye, annual meteor showers may be in any year partially
obstructed by the moon, clouds or night mist, so amateur astronomers might want to carry along
a pair of binoculars just in case. Even on clear nights, some type of viewing aid may come in
handy for catching sight of even the faintest of falling stars, aptly named "telescopic" meteors.
On super clear nights, forget the telescope and simply look up. For photographing meteors, a
digital camera mounted on a tripod helps to steady the images that swiftly move across the sky.
A quick trigger finger also helps, but even random clicks during the height of viewing "prime-
time" will guarantee that you'll catch something. Be sure to have the camera focused on infinity
and, if your camera permits, leave the shutter open for several minutes for the most spectacular
photographic effects.