UK skies are blessed with around 30 meteor showers each year, but few are as breathtaking as the Leonids. It’s known for some of the most beautiful, fast and bright meteors imaginable – and at its peak, you can see up to 10 meteors an hour. As of today (November 6), the Leonid meteor shower is once again soaring overhead.
What is the Leonid meteor shower?
The Leonid meteor shower is named after Leo zodiac, as it appears to originate from a point in the constellation, but is actually caused by the Comet Tempel-Tuttle. When the comet passes our sun, it leaves behind a trail of debris. This then enters our planet’s atmosphere, at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per second, and breaks apart to create “shooting stars”.
It’s probably most famous for its extremely high activity in certain years, reaching thousands of meteors an hour. This is usually every 33 years, when the comet passes closest to the sun, but won’t happen again until around 2031. The 1999-2001 storms produced about 3000 per hour, while in 1833 there were an estimated 100,000 meteors per hour.
How can I see the Leonids?
Starting from November 6, the Leonids will be visible over Birmingham until November 30. They will be at their peak on November 18, however, with up to 10 meteors per hour. This occurs just a few days after the full moon, which may affect visibility due to the moon’s natural light pollution.
To increase your odds of spotting the Leonids, you’ll want to find somewhere:
- away from street lamps and other light pollution sources
- with a wide open space to see the whole night sky
- comfy, because you could end up waiting awhile (pack snacks, a hot drink and warm clothing)
You won’t need binoculars or a telescope, these shooting stars will be visible to the naked eye once you adjust to the dark. But don’t worry if you miss the peak, you should be able to still see it for a few days on either side.