Paris, Nov 15: The Leonid shooting stars return next week for what is likely to be their last great fireworks display for three decades, and maybe even as long as a century. The Leonids show up every November when the earth moves through a narrow trail of rubble left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle in its lonely swing around the sun, an event that occurs once every 33 years.

As the dust and tiny pieces of rock enter the earth`s atmosphere, the speed of that collision -- 71 km per second -- causes them to vaporize and die in a fiery, golden streak. Bigger rocks sizzle up in a fireball, even sometimes leaving a smoke trail.
Because they appear in the sickle-shaped constellation of Leo, the Lion, the meteors are known as the Leonids.
In recent years, the Leonids have been magnificent because of the rocky treasure deposited by Tempel-Tuttle during its last flyby, in 1998.
This year`s meteors have been eagerly awaited because the Earth will plough through two thick trails left in 1767 and in 1866. Bureau Report