When and how to see the Leonid meteor shower
You can see them now!
Shooting stars, or meteors are they are actually called, happen all the time, however, meteor showers only happen at certain times throughout the year and with a keen eye you can see one over the coming nights.
Every year, meteors which are pieces of debris from a Comet Tempel-Tuttle, create a meteor shower between 10th –20th November, with a peak around 17th-19th.
On the nights of 17th/18th and 18th/19th November we can expect up to 15 meteors an hour, coming from the area of Leo the lion. The Leonids, as they are called, originate from the Comet Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33 years. The comet was discovered way back in 1866, and was last closest to the Sun back in 1998.
Take a look at how to find the constellation Leo in the sky:
Of course a lot depends on whether you can actually see the meteors. The good old British weather is a major factor, however, if you manage to get a clear sky, then find a dark corner and look in the direction of Leo as you could be set to see some shooting stars!
Here are some tips on how to increase your chances of seeing the Leonids...
1. Dark sky
You might not realise how much light pollution there is in your neighbourhood, find out more about light pollution and where you can find a really dark sky here.
Allow your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Don't forget that the moon can also interfere so try to avoid times when it is visible.
2. Date and time
To increase your chances of seeing some meteors make sure you find out the best time to look for them. Often it is when the sky is at its darkest (in the middle of the night), or if there is a meteor shower, when the radiant (where the meteors come from - the constellation Leo) is high in the sky.
3. Look in the right area
It sounds obvious, but the sky is a very large area and meteors are very fast! Make sure you know which area of the sky you should be looking in. The Leonids come from Leo, the easiest way to find it would be to use a free sky map app on your phone. We've also included a video at the bottom of this page to help you find it.
4. Good weather
Again, it seems obvious, but there's no point in standing in the cold when it's cloudy. Check the weather forecast before going outside, and if it's going to be clear later on then wait until then if you can.
5. Don't use a telescope or binoculars
Using a telescope or binoculars will DECREASE your chances of seeing a meteor. Meteors are so quick that you are likely to miss them if you don't use the naked eye. Save your telescope or binoculars for the moon or planets.
Now read:
Now have a look at 10 things you probably didn't know about shooting stars