Meteor storm of 1833
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The meteor storm of 1833 was one of the greatest meteor storms of all time. It was a superlative appearance of the annual Leonids meteor shower. It has been estimated that observers saw over 100,000 meteors per hour. (By comparison, in the 1999 appearance of the Leonids, considered to be excellent, observers saw about 1,000 meteors per hour).
It was visible in the United States. It came unpredicted to a population that was largely ignorant of astronomy, and was terrifying to many. Some, including Mormon leader Joseph Smith, saw it as a sign that the end of the world and the Second Coming were at hand. The event touched off a religious revival in the United States.