Don't forget about the Meteor Shower tonight!

Meredith: Arts and entertainment is not just limited to the stage. Students are looking to the sky for a spectacular sight. There is a meteor shower that will be seen tonight. Joining us in the studio with more details is our current event specialist Jenny Farley.

Jenny: That's right Meredith. Tonight meteor shower 'Leonids' will be viewable in our skies. The shower is due to peak today and the best time tonight will be just before dawn. It will last through tomorrow night. And you won't need a telescope to see this natural wonder. Luckily the moon will be just past new, so the lights will not affect our view. 

Meredith: Is there a difference between a shooting star and a meteor?

Jenny: Not really. A shooting star is a common term for a singular meteor. A meteor shower is made of a bunch of comets and the debris that gets shed as it orbits the sun and melts the ice. That is actually what you see when you seee a shooting star is the trail of ice and dust that gets left behind a comet. 

Meredith: What is the best way to view this meteor shower?

Jenny: Well Meredith, because we don't live in a large city the stars are actually very visible. However being close to the temple and near Idaho Falls makes it not as bright as it could be. If you go anywhere, make sure you drive north. According to Starsdate online magazine driving south will lead you to darker skies. If you can see the little dipper you know that the sky is dark enough to see the shower. It should be very interesting to watch. We haven't had a big meteor shower since this past summer. 

Written by Jenny Farley