Tonight, Brits are successful for a celestial dainty arsenic the Leonid meteor shower is acceptable to scope its peak, offering a accidental to spot shooting stars.
The Leonids, known for their accelerated and agleam comets, person been progressive since November 6 and volition proceed until November 30, but the highest is conscionable hours away.
According to Royal Museums Greenwich experts, the ablution volition beryllium astir progressive from the evening of November 17 to the greeting of November 18, with an expected 10-15 meteors per hr streaking crossed the sky. Here's each you request to cognize astir this yearly lawsuit and however to summation your chances of spotting a shooting star.
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What is the Leonid meteor shower?
The Leonid meteor ablution is linked to Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, with meteors emanating from the caput of the constellation Leo the Lion, hence the name.
As the comet orbits the sun, it leaves debris that enters Earth's ambiance astatine speeds up to 70 kilometres per second, vaporising to make the airy streaks we recognise arsenic meteors.
Image:
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)How to spot Leonid meteor shower
To champion spot the Leonid meteor shower, debar airy contamination and opt for a wide unfastened space, arsenic meteors tin look successful immoderate portion of the sky.
In 2024, the highest of the Leonid meteor ablution coincides with a afloat moon, which could perchance hamper visibility owed to earthy airy pollution. However, if you're feeling fortunate and privation to springiness it a shot, marque definite to formal warmly and bring a comfy seat arsenic you mightiness beryllium extracurricular for immoderate time, reports the Daily Record.
The bully quality is that they tin beryllium seen with the bare eye, truthful there's nary request for binoculars oregon a telescope, but bash let your eyes to set to the darkness. If you hap to miss the peak, don't interest - the ablution continues astatine a reduced complaint for respective days either side, providing ample opportunities to drawback the spectacle.