Kathy Williams

The Leonids are here -- arguably Earth's most spectacular meteor shower. Actually, they will be if the clouds go away.

Leonids emanate from the constellation Leo (natch). They're named after Leo the Lion. I, personally, have never been able to see a lion in the constellation, the early Greeks (or was it the Romans?) had more powerful imaginations than I. Or perhaps mead has properties I've never experienced. For the modern person, look to the east. You won't have to use your imagination (or binoculars) to see the show if it goes as predicted. Predicting the intensity of meteor showers is dicey.

Each year, the Earth passes through the debris field that the comet Temple-Tuttel leaves behind as it passes our way every 33 years. What makes the Leonids the coolest meteor shower (besides that it happens in late fall) is that the debris field moves in the opposite direction the Earth is heading. So, the particles are traveling in excess of 160,000 mph. And this makes contact with the Earth's atmosphere such a searing experience that the particles glow white, aquamarine, sometimes even green. There are fireballs when bigger chunks collide. And some Internet reporters say bigger meteors are audible (of course that blogger was from California.)

Had we been on our toes earlier, we would have alerted you to watch in the wee hours Tuesday. However the show should still be great between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Wednesday. You won't need any binoculars or telescopes, just your naked eyes and a comfortable and warm roost. Find the darkest place possible. (Note: City parks are closed at this hour.) Get in your lawn chair, reclined and all bundled up, and give yourself about 15 minutes for your eyes to adjust. (Another note: If you have outside lights, please turn them out for at least one evening without light pollution.) Sit back and enjoy the show. This would be a good time to forego bedtime rules and let the kids witness something they'll never forget.

Happy birthday Tuesday to Dr. Jerry Gundersheimer, Alvin Wayne Gray, Terry Lynn Green, Ahjaleigh Smith and Talmadge Kemp, all of Sherman; Pat Wright, Katy Corbray, Cynthia Patterson, Rolonda Johnson and Jesse Dale McMillin, all of Denison; Lana Grace Tate of Van Alstyne; twins, Ky and Braedon Trader of Wylie; Nancy Martin Todd of Trenton; Bernice Phelps and Kyla Neal, both of Bells; LaVelda Judkins of Dorchester; Bailey McGehee of Savoy; Treva Anderson Bell of Bedford; Kari Vincent of Denton; D.L. Nichols of Edmond, Okla.; Danny Green of Carrollton.