The Leonids are debris from comet Temple-Tuttle. This year's shower is expected to be heaviest since 1966 - heavy enough that the Air Force is concerned about satellite damage from electrostatic discharges (not from impact).
"Don't forget to look up after the moon sets at about 1AM EST. If you can get a clear dark sky you can see up to 1,500 shooting stars per hour." (Dr. Fiorella Terenze)
NASA is tracking them at http://www.leonidslive.com.
Cheers!
Natasha
Natasha Vita-More: http://www.natasha.cc To Order the book: Create/Recreate: The Third Millennial Culture
http://www.natasha.cc/books.htm
Transhumanist Arts Centre: http://www.extropic-art.com
Transhuman Culture InfoMark: http://www.transhuman.org