The night sky will be lit up with a particularly impressive show this weekend.
The Leonid meteor shower is a dazzling display that’s fascinated stargazers for centuries.
But why does this magic event happen and is it possible to catch a glimpse of it? Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Leonid meteor shower.
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What is the Leonid meteor shower?
The Leonids is one of the more prolific annual meteor showers, offering stargazers a dazzling view of fast and bright meteors as they zoom across the sky.
Named 'Leonids' because the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Leo, the shower happens when the Earth passes through the debris left by the comet Tempel-Tuttle.
As the tiny particles, mostly no larger than grains of sand, enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 miles (70km) per second, they burn up and vaporize, creating bright streaks in the sky known as meteors.
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When will it happen?
The Leonid meteor shower typically peaks around mid-November every year - 2023's display is expected around November 17-19.
However, it’s worth noting that the shower's intensity varies, with some years producing a standard rate of about 15 meteors per hour, while others - known as 'meteor storms' - have produced upwards of hundreds or even thousands of meteors per hour.
This means exact peak dates and times change slightly each year, so it's important to check up-to-date astronomical forecasts for the best timing.
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This year’s predicted peak, according to Earsky.org, will be Saturday, November 18 at 5:33am GMT, 12:33 EST on Friday, November 17 at 9:33pm PST.
How can you watch it?
The Leonid meteor shower can be seen from just about anywhere in the world, and good news: it’ll be visible to the naked eye.
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One thing you'll definitely need is a clear sky, and you'll have the best luck in the darkest possible conditions – away from streetlights and other sources of light.
In the US, for instance, Arizona is a great place for viewing the shower as it offers some top spots for watching the night sky, including designated Dark Sky Parks such as Grand Canyon National Park and Petrified Forest National Park.
In the UK, the best displays will be visible in central, southern and eastern parts of the country, according to the Met Office, so long as there are breaks between showers.
Dan Stroud, operational meteorologist at the Met Office, was optimistic that we should get some good views this year, since we are having a “waxing moon” this weekend, which should give us some dark skies.
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“There will be a band of wind and heavy rain moving across the country, but by the time the sun goes down on Saturday, most of it should have cleared, and there will be some decent breaks between showers,” he said.
“It will be hit and miss, but there’s a chance of clear spells, especially the further east you are.”
Those missing out on the shower’s peak might still have a chance to glimpse the display as it pushes on for a few days afterwards.