On This Day

The great Leonid Meteor shower recorded

A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky.

A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds on parallel trajectories. Most meteors are smaller than a grain of sand, so almost all of them disintegrate and never hit the Earth's surface. Very intense or unusual meteor showers are known as meteor outbursts and meteor storms, which produce at least 1,000 meteors an hour, most notably from the Leonids. The Meteor Data Centre lists over 900 suspected meteor showers of which about 100 are well established. Several organizations point to viewing opportunities on the Internet.

Historical Significance

A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky.

Events Before

  1. Romantic ballet "La Sylphide" by Filippo Taglioni premieres at the Opéra de Paris

    Romantic ballet "La Sylphide" by Filippo Taglioni premieres at the Opéra de Paris

  2. British Parliament, led by Charles Grey, passes the Reform Act, introducing wide-ranging changes to the electoral system

    British Parliament, led by Charles Grey, passes the Reform Act, introducing wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales, increasing the electorate from about 500,000 voters to 813,000

  3. Felix Mendelssohn's concert overture "Hebrides" premieres in London, England

    The Hebrides (German: Die Hebriden) is a concert overture that was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1830, revised in 1832, and published the next year as Mendelssohn's Op. 26.

  4. First US Democratic National Convention is held in Baltimore

    The 1832 Democratic National Convention was held from May 21 to May 23, 1832, in Baltimore, Maryland.

  5. Source of Mississippi River discovered by American geographer Henry Schoolcraft

    Henry Rowe Schoolcraft (March 28, 1793 – December 10, 1864) was an American geographer, geologist, and ethnologist, noted for his early studies of Native American cultures, as well as for his 1832...

Events After

  1. German Zollverein (Customs Union) comes into effect

    The Zollverein, or German Customs Union, was a coalition of German states formed to manage tariffs and economic policies within their territories.

  2. Religious leader Brigham Young (32) weds herbalist Mary Ann Angell (27)

    Religious leader Brigham Young (32) weds herbalist Mary Ann Angell (27)

  3. Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into effect, abolishing slavery across the British Empire

    Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into effect, abolishing slavery across the British Empire

  4. American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison (28) weds Helen Eliza Benson (22), in Boston, Massachusetts

    American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison (28) weds Helen Eliza Benson (22), in Boston, Massachusetts

  5. US Congressman and future US President Franklin Pierce (29) weds Jane Appleton (28) at her grandparents' home in Amherst

    US Congressman and future US President Franklin Pierce (29) weds Jane Appleton (28) at her grandparents' home in Amherst, New Hampshire

More from the 1830s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on November 12, 1833?
A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds on parallel trajectories. Most meteors are smaller than a grain of sand, so almost all of them disintegrate and never hit the Earth's surface.
Why is The great Leonid Meteor shower recorded significant?
A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky.

Explore More