This year's Leonid meteor shower could be one of the most spectacular showers in years, producing as many as 10,000 meteors over a one-hour period.
David Batch, director of the Michigan State University Abrams Planetarium, said the conditions are right for what he called a "once-in-a-generation" event.
"This could prove to be a rare experience," he said. "The frequency of 'shooting stars' may reach as high as one per second."
In North America, the best time for viewing will be on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at around 5:30 a.m.
Meteor showers are created when the earth collides with the debris that is sloughed off by a comet, Batch said. When the earth passes through the debris, streaks of light are produced as the particles burn up as they enter the atmosphere.
"The Leonids' parent comet, Tempel-Tuttle, has an orbital period of around 33 years," Batch said. "Therefore, it will likely be that long again before conditions produce another meteor storm."
To make the most of this opportunity, Batch suggested watching from a dark, dust-free location. He said the moon will be full at that time, but should have little impact on viewing.
"The science of predicting meteor showers and storms is by no means exact," he said. "The Leonids could fail to produce a storm this year. But isn't the gamble of lost sleep worth a once-in-a-generation spectacle?"
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