The Leonid meteor shower is active throughout November, and its peak on the night of 17 November gives skywatchers in the UK a chance to see up to 10-15 meteors per hour. The display is created by debris from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which sheds dust particles as it orbits the Sun. These particles strike the Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of up to 44 miles (71km) per second, making the Leonids the quickest meteors visible in the sky.
When and where to look
The shower runs from now until 30 November, but the best viewing is expected around its mid-month peak. The meteors appear to radiate from the head of the constellation Leo, so that part of the sky is the most natural place to direct your attention. They can still appear elsewhere, though, so a wide view of the night sky is an advantage.
No special equipment is needed: the Leonids are visible to the naked eye. Experts recommend finding a safe, dark spot away from street lights and other sources of light pollution. A wide open space gives the fullest view. Allow your eyes roughly 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness before expecting to catch the fainter streaks.
Weekend weather prospects
Clear skies are essential, and the forecast for the first weekend of the shower is mixed. Many areas are expected to stay dry, but extensive cloud is likely to cover the sky in many places, with a few spots of rain or drizzle possible.
At present, the best chances of clearer skies appear to be in southern and western parts of England and Wales on Friday and Saturday nights. Northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland are more likely to see cloud. By Sunday night, clearer conditions may reach more parts of the UK.
Where skies do clear for any length of time, fog could form and obscure the view. Overnight temperatures will fall into single figures, with a touch of frost possible in some locations, so anyone planning to watch for a while should dress warmly.
Better viewing may come at the peak
If this weekend proves cloudy, there is reason to look ahead. Viewing conditions around the shower’s mid-November peak look particularly favourable because the Moon will be below the horizon around midnight, reducing the reflected light that can wash out fainter meteors.
Hour-by-hour forecasts of cloud, fog and temperature are available for local areas, and skywatchers should check conditions before heading out.
