Impressive Leonid Meteor Showers Expected Nov. 17

This should be fun, if the clouds can be kept away.

Circle Nov. 17 on your calendar, for early that morning a moderate to possibly very strong showing of annual Leonid meteor shower is likely.

A potentially enjoyable display of a few dozen Leonid meteors per hour is expected to favor North America. In the United States and Canada, eastern observers will be particularly well-positioned for maximum activity, expected sometime between 3:30 and 5:30 a.m. EST, when the radiant of the Leonid shower will be well up in the dark southeastern sky.

Not in the East? Don’t fret. Observers all across North America may experience a good Leonid show with “shooting stars” streaking across the sky every few minutes.

// INTERACTIVE Your guide to the meteor show A look at meteor showers and how to view them

Also a big plus in 2009 is the lack of any interference from the moon.  New moon is on Nov. 16, so skies will be dark for catching the fainter meteor streaks. And the first light of dawn will not break until shortly after 5 a.m. local time.