How to Catch the Leonids Meteor Shower This Weekend
The annual Leonid meteor shower peaks this weekend, and while it may not be the brightest or most spectacular meteor event of the year, it’s still worth looking out for.
The Leonids are the result of the Earth’s passage in the wake of comet Tempel-Tuttle (55P/Tempel-Tuttle), which was first discovered in 1865. , and the 1966 shower saw thousands of meteors per minute for 15 minutes early on November 17th. orbit about every 33 years—2024 isn’t one of them—but the Leonids will be most visible to dedicated skywatchers in just a few days.
How to watch Leonid’s shower this year
The 2024 Leonid shower has been active since November 3 and is forecast to peak early on November 18, with best observations late on November 17 and early hours on November 18 (and possibly the morning of November 17 as well). . Although the meteors originate from a point near the constellation Leo, they are likely to appear in all parts of the night sky.
Under ideal conditions, the Leonids produce 10–15 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, the rain won’t be as visible this year due to the waning moon, which will be 98% illuminated on peak nights. But this does not mean that it will be a complete collapse. EarthSky offers several recommendations for minimizing lunar interference :
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Find an open space with minimal light pollution.
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Sit in the shade, whether on the top of a mountain, a row of tall trees, or next to a building.
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Focus on the quality of individual meteors compared to the quantity of the shower as a whole.
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Look for globes (long-lived meteors moving horizontally) and fireballs (bright meteors).
If you go searching for the Leonids, take with you everything you need to get comfortable and stay cozy for a while – you may be rewarded for your efforts.