The Leonids are viewed as the Earth moves through the stream of particles left from the passage of the comet Tempel-Tuttle. The name “leonid” designates the location of their radiant in the sky: the constellation Leo. The annual meteor shower may deposit 12 or 13 tons of particles across the entire planet. The peak of the Leonid shower is generally around November 18, but varies slightly, as the orbits of the comet trails are affected by other planets, giving them a different trail than the comet itself.
