Looking for a good place to view tonightâÂÂs Leonid meteor shower?

Ross Janssen, 6News meteorologist, suggests heading to Clinton Lake or some other rural site south of Lawrence.

Prime times for viewing the Leonid meteor shower in the Lawrence area are between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Tuesday, he said.

âÂÂThere could be as many as 300 to 400 meteors per hour,â he said.

An earlier peak is expected about 10:30 p.m. Monday, when skywatchers might see a few meteors skimming the top of the atmosphere.

Astronomers predict that the next occurrence of a Leonid storm even close to this magnitude wonâÂÂt arrive until 2099, he said.

The meteors actually are dust particles shed by Comet Tempel-Tuttle, which swings around the sun once every 33 years. The shower occurs each November, when the EarthâÂÂs orbit takes the planet through the trail left by the comet.

The big problem overnight will be getting away from the nearly full moon, Janssen said.

âÂÂBy the peak viewing time of the meteor shower, the moon will be in the western sky. And the best thing to do is turn your back to the moon. To view the Leonid meteor shower, youâÂÂre going to have to look to the southeast,â he said.

He suggested going out somewhere south of Lawrence to put the city lights at your back.

He also said Clinton Lake would be a good place.

Several dozen people are expected to travel to Clinton Lake to attend Campitronica, an annual music-fest campout conducted each November to welcome the Leonid meteor shower.

For directions to get to the camping event, go to www.ljworld.com/leonids.