Ten times a year, the Earth flies into a comet’s dust trail. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, we will experience the Leonid Meteor Shower. This is near the new moon and dark skies. The comet responsible for these meteors is Tempel-Tuttle.

The best time to observe this is from midnight to dawn. The meteors seem to originate in the constellation Leo. Focus your search a little away from this radiant. The constellation Orion is in a good position. Find a place with no local lighting and avoid using any white lights. Let your eyes adjust to the dark and enjoy. There may be 10-15 meteors per hour.

The Insperity Observatory will reopen for public nights Dec. 4. Reservations are required and space will be limited. To make a reservation, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. containing your name and the number of people in your group. Masks are required. Our website is humbleisd.net/observatory.

Author: Aaron ClevensonEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I am the observatory director at the Insperity Observatory in Humble ISD. I am also an adjunct astronomy professor at Lone Star College-Montgomery where I teach solar system astronomy and stars and galaxies astronomy. I am the author of the astronomy textbook, “Astronomy for Mere Mortals.” I am a past president of the North Houston Astronomy Club, and was the chair of Astronomy Day in Southeast Texas in 2015 and 2016. He is an observing program director with The Astronomical League, coordinates their Master Observer Progression Awards, and has authored six of their observing programs.

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• Star Struck - "The Great Conjunction"
• Star Struck - "Mars is back"