Quadrantids Meteor Shower: New Year's Light Show

When is the Quadrantids Meteor Shower? If you don't pay attention, you may miss this New Year's light show!

What a way to ring in the New Year! The Quadrantids Meteor Shower 2013 peaks on Jan. 2-3. The Quadrantids come from an asteroid called 2003 EH1, just as the Geminids did in early December. Expect to see about 80 meteors per hour. Tips for best viewing of the meteor shower The meteor shower is expected to "last only a few hours," according to NASA.com. That means you should look for it in the the night of Jan. 2-3, not the night of Jan. 3-4. The best time to view the meteors will be between then and sunrise at about 7:50 a.m.  Earthsky.org reports the Quadrantids peak might be in the hours just before dawn on Jan. 3. "Face the general direction of north-northeast, but take in as wide an expanse of sky as possible. Watch from about 2 a.m. …

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Leonid Meteor Shower 2012: Where to Watch in Largo

The Leonid meteor shower will peak on Nov. 17 and Nov. 20.

Keep your eyes on the sky during the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 17-20, because that's when the famous Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak. These meteors are fast (about 40 miles per second) and can leave trails of smoke, according to Astronomy.com. They will appear to radiate from the constellation Leo the Lion and can vary in color. "Many Leonids are also bright. Usually, the meteors are white or bluish-white, but in recent years some observers reported yellow-pink and copper-colored ones," according to Astronomy.com.  Where will you watch in Largo? Maybe out on Indian Rocks Beach or in the backyard? Here's one of the 10 coolest things to know about the Leonids, from Space.com: "Leonids are spawned by the comet Tempel-Tuttle. Every 33 …

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Orionids Meteor Shower 2012: Set to Peak Saturday Night in Largo

Shooting stars will be flying early in the morning in Largo. The Orionids meteor shower promises to be a show worth watching.

Orionids Meteor Shower 2012: Where to Watch in Largo

Shooting stars will be flying early in the morning in Largo. The Orionids meteor shower promises to be a show worth watching.

The offspring of Halley's Comet are about to put on quite a show in the skies of Largo. Earth passed through a stream of debris from Halley's Comet on Oct. 15, which will give us the benefit of the annual Orionids meteor shower—though you probably won't see much until a bit later. What's the best place in Largo to watch the meteor shower? The beach? Somewhere else? Do you plan to watch? Let us know in the comments section below! The shower should be at its peak the night of Saturday, Oct. 20, until just before dawn on Oct. 21. This year, the moon will be setting at approximately midnight, which will keep the sky darkened enough that—barring cloud cover—you should be able to see up to 15 meteors per hour. What makes this shower so cool? …

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Best Time, Place to Watch Perseids Meteor Shower in Largo

With only partly cloudy skies forecast over Largo, we should be able to get a good view of the Perseids meteor shower, which is set to peak this weekend.

The threat of showers depart after 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in Largo, making way for better Perseids meteor-gazing conditions: partly cloudy skies and an overnight low in the mid to high 70s. What's the best place in Largo to watch the meteor shower? The beach? Somewhere else? Do you plan to watch? Let us know in the comments section below! The Perseids are a meteor shower visible when the Earth passes through the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet. The meteor shower has been visible for about 2,000 years. The Swift-Tuttle comet orbits once every 133 years, according to NASA. “The Perseids can be seen all over the sky, but the best viewing opportunities will be across the northern hemisphere,” according to a 2011 NASA release. “Those with…

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