Leonid meteor shower this week promises show of cosmic proportions.

Byline: Lawrence Spohn lspohn@abqtrib.com / 823-3611

Streaks of white-hot light, brilliant flashing fireballs and residual glowworms: all are coming to a sky above you this week.

The weather forecast has been picture-perfect so far this month in New Mexico, but astronomers are predicting at least a nightly shower of the celestial kind.

They are gearing up for the annual Leonids meteor shower, which this year could be among the best in three decades. The optimum time for viewing is predicted to be in the early-morning hours Thursday between midnight and about 4:30 a.m.

Stray meteors, even brief showers, may also be seen during the same early-morning periods beginning after midnight Wednesday and Friday as the Earth plows through a fresh debris path laid down by Comet …