Leonid meteor shower: When Ukrainians can enjoy meteor shower
When is the peak of the Leonid meteor shower (photo: Freepik)
The annual meteor shower known as the Leonids began on November 3 and will continue until December 2, with its peak expected during the night of November 18, according to Earth Sky.
What will be this year's Leonid meteor shower like
The most spectacular meteor shower will occur late in the evening on November 17, and observers can enjoy it until dawn on November 18. The moonlight on this night will be minimal, allowing Ukrainians to fully appreciate the meteor shower. Experts note that between 10 to 15 meteors per hour may be visible.
It's worth mentioning that the Leonid meteor shower on November 17, 1966, became one of the most significant in history. During a 15-minute interval, the meteor rate reached thousands per minute.
Best places to observe meteor shower
Although the name Leonids is associated with the constellation Leo, this meteor shower can be observed in all parts of the sky. Therefore, it is advisable to observe the entire celestial dome.
The best visibility of the meteor shower is achieved when observing from locations far away from the lights of a major city or other artificial sources of light.
What is known about the Leonid meteor shower
The Leonid meteor shower is formed from material shed by Comet Tempel-Tuttle when it passes near the Sun. When the Earth intersects this meteoroid stream, its particles ignite in the atmosphere, becoming visible as a meteor shower.
The Leonids are considered the most powerful regular meteor shower. Every 33 years, exceptionally abundant showers, known as meteor storms, occur. During these events, thousands of meteors can be observed per hour. Meteor storms were observed in 1698, 1799, 1833, 1866, 1966, and 2001. This year, a normal meteor shower is anticipated.
