COMING SOON: LAST CHANCE TO SEE METEOR SHOWER UNTIL 2099
Skywatchers in Europe and the United States will have an opportunity to see the most dramatic light show of the past several decades when the Earth passes through the orbit of comet Tempel-Tuttle. The resulting Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak at 11 p.m. EST in Spain, the night of Nov. 18, and at 5:30 a.m. EST over Nebraska, on Nov. 19.
On Monday, Nov. 18, astrophysicist Dr. Scott Sandford of NASA Ames Research Center will be available for live interviews to explain where and when people in the U.S. can see the meteor shower. He also will explain how studying comets, cosmic dust and meteors, which are made from ice and dust that existed when the solar system was formed, can help scientists develop a better understanding of how life began on Earth.
“Comets and meteors are fascinating to study because they are a frozen record from the time when the solar system formed,” said Sandford. “Due to geological activity, all of Earth’s materials have been reformed several times over. We must study comets, meteors and meteorites to get an early view of the planetary system we call home.”
Ask Dr. Sandford:
- … Where and when can people in the U.S. can see the meteor shower?
- … Why do we study comets, cosmic dust and meteors?
- … How do they tell us how life began on Earth?
Live interviews with Dr. Sandford will originate from NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., on NASA TV. To book a window on Monday, Nov. 18 between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. EST (5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. PST), call Victoria Steiner at 650/604-0176 or e-mail at: vsteiner@mail.arc.nasa.gov
NASA TV is broadcast on GE-2 (C-Band satellite), transponder 9C at 85 degrees west longitude, vertical polarization with a downlink frequency of 3880 Mhz and audio of 6.8 Mhz. In case of technical problems during the interview, call NASA Ames’ master control at 650/604-1296.
