The Leonid meteor shower is peaking this week, though you should have the chance of seeing “shooting stars” all week long.
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We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, we’ve been pretty spoiled when it comes to skywatching these past few months.Be sure to keep an eye to the sky this week: The Leonid meteor shower, an annual mid-November treat, will soar across the night sky Tuesday and Wednesday. The image above shows the meteor shower in 2009 at 2:20 in the morning.
The best show will be the during the peak hours of Leonids, specifically the mornings of November 17 and 18. Fortunately, the shower can be see on both hemispheres but may be more distinct in the Northern hemisphere.
A stunning meteor shower is set to peak in the skies above the United Kingdom this week giving observers a chance to see up to 15 shooting stars each hour. Experts say that Leonid showers can be seen nearly anywhere. However, they recommend watching the shower in areas where the surroundings are dark at night and where there are no city lights which may interfere with the brightness of the meteors. And, as said above this year also the meteors are expected to have enhanced activity.
A separate storm system will bring clouds to the Northwest, resulting in poor viewing conditions across the region, Samuhel stated.
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Stargazers who will encounter inclement weather or cloudy skies can view Slooh’s live broadcast of the meteor shower starting at 8:00 p.m. EST on November 17. As it passes, it lays out fresh debris in the path of earth’s orbit after every 33 years. The CEO of Dubai Astronomy Group told Emirates 24/7: “The most ideal time to catch the Leonids event is between midnight and 3am, which is when the Earth has rotated to a front facing position of the meteor shower”. Fortunately, there is no need for any special equipment to witness the spectacular meteor shower.
