The Year the Stars Fell: A Terrifying Meteor Shower in 1833

Captured during the annual Perseid meteor shower, this "shooting star."Photo byNASA

Many Plains Native Americans kept a pictorial calendar. In a circular pattern, they would picture the most memorable event that year. In 1833, the local tribes all recorded the same thing. Images of stars raining down on Earth. It was referred to as “the year the stars fell.”

On November 13, 1833, the largest meteor shower ever witnessed occurred. An estimated 72,000 shooting stars per hour rained down on the atmosphere over most of North America.

When the spectacle occurred, they must have been terrified by the event and thought the world was coming to an end.

Lone Dog’s Winter Count 1800-1871 recording the 1833 event.Photo byChoctaw Spirit / Enhanced by Colorado Martini

The Nakota Sioux record, the “Lone Dog’s Winter Count” is part of the Plains Indian collections at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming (pictured above). Lone Dog’s winter count, painted and drawn on muslin, records the years 1800 to 1871. The record beginnings in the center and spirals out counterclockwise . This piece is sometimes called, “When the Stars Fell” because it documents the 1833 Leonid meteor shower.

Close-up of Lone Dog’s Winter Count 1800-1871 depicting a black crescent moon surrounded by falling stars depicted as red ovals.Photo byChoctaw Spirit / Enhanced by Colorado Martini

What Caused This Event?

Around November 17th to 18th, each year, the Leonid meteor shower peaks in the evening skies over Colorado. It has been referred to as the "Lion King of meteor showers." In some years there are dramatic bursts in which many meteors rain down every minute. It was this annual meteor shower that put on a show for North Americans in 1833. The superstitious felt that the 1833 event was the end of the world. Bostonian eyewitnesses reported the meteors were falling “like snowflakes.”

The Falling Stars, Nov. 13, 1833.” Bible Readings for the Home Circle, p. 323. Review and Herald Publishing Association. 1914.Photo byLibrary of Congress / Enhanced by Colorado Martini

In 1833, scientists and observers were somewhat familiar with the Leonid storms. It was first recorded as far back as 902 AD. However, it was this event that led to the first formulation of a theory on the origin of meteors. According to the Victorian Astronomy writer, Agnes Clerke, “240,000 must have been visible during the nine hours they continued to fall."

Over the years the storm has put on spectacular shows. In 1966, a Leonid storm was recorded to have rates as high as thousands of meteors per minute for 15 minutes on the morning of November 17th. Witnesses reported the illusion of Earth moving through space.

a 19th century woodcut. Early settlers look up in amazement at a sky filled with shooting stars.Photo byNASA / Enhanced by Colorado Martini

The Parent Comet of The Leonid Meteor Shower

Periodic Comet Tempel-Tuttle, officially known as 55P/Temple-Tuttle, is responsible for the Leonid meteor shower. The comet was discovered in France in 1865. At this time, scientists calculated an orbit of 33.17 years around the sun. Astronomers realized that the Leonid meteor storms and showers which occurred in mid-November of each year were the result of this comet.

The comet was seen by astronomers in 1965, and the spectacular 1966 meteor storm followed. On the next return, in early 1998, the comet was bright enough that it could be seen with binoculars. That year produced impressive meteor showers in 1999-2001. The comet is not due back until early 2031 with hopes that it will produce a show.

Shankland Scrapbook images - Mrs. E. S. Shankland Nashville History Scrapbook, ca. 1800-1932Photo byThe Tennessee State Library and Archives Blog

Leonid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2024

In recent years the "Lion" whimpers rather than roars. In November 2024, the Leonid meteor shower will compete with moonlight. On November 18^th, the moon will be in a waning gibbous phase during the shower’s peak morning on November 18^th.

The predicted peak is 11:00 pm MST (5:00 UTC) on November 18^th. But you have a better chance of seeing it in Colorado on the night of November 17^th until dawn on November 18^th. Historically towards dawn has had the best showing. The shower itself will have a duration of November 3^rd to December 2^nd. In Colorado, it would be best seen in dark-sky areas like the mountains or Plains.

Have you ever seen this meteor shower or did you know about it? Let us know in the comments.

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