There are quick facts about the meteorite shower.

November 3 and December 2.

The peak is on November 18.

55P is a comet.

The hourly rate is called the zenithal rate.

In an hour of peak activity with a clear, dark sky and the radiant at the zenith, a single observer could see as many as 100 meteors per hour.

The shower peaks on Nov. 18 and lasts from November 3 to December 2.

When Earth passes through the debris left behind by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, there is a shower.

According to NASA, the Leonids are some of the fastest in the sky at 44 miles per second. They can produce bright and colorful fireballs.

There are dates and viewing advice in the guide.

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Every now and then, the shower erupts into a huge storm of shooting stars. The last storm to occur was in 2002. The definition of a meteorite storm is having at least 1,000 in an hour. Thousands of meteorites fell in just 15 minutes during a storm. The 1966 storm is not as bad as the 1833 meteor storm that rained down on Earth with an estimated 100,000 meteors per hour.

The Leonids could still put on a good show this year despite not seeing a storm. The moon will be illuminated by a third of it's normal amount on the day of the peak.

What causes the Leonid meteor shower?

Painting showing hundreds of white meteor trails through the sky with people watching on from the hillside. London is pictured in the distance below the meteor storm.

From Sun, Moon and Stars by Agnes Giberne. (London, 1884). This artwork shows the Leonid meteor storm over Greenwich, London in 1866.   (Image credit: Photo by Oxford Science Archive/Print Collector/Getty Images)
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The debris left behind by 55P/Tempel-Tuttle as it passes through the solar system causes the Leonids. In 2031, it will come back.

When Earth passes through the comet's debris, the "comet crumbs" heat up and produce "shooting stars" that streak across the sky.

The nucleus of 55P/Tempel-Tuttle is 2.24 miles away. In 1865 and 1866 it was discovered by two different people. The letter "P" indicates that it is a comet with an average age of less than 200 years.

Where can you see the Leonid meteor shower?

Leonid meteors streak through the sky above a house.

Astrophotographer Jeff Berkes captured this shot of Leonid meteors over a house in New Jersey in 2012. (Image credit: Jeff Berkes)

The shower is named after the constellation from which it appears to originate. The Leonids are thought to have originated from the direction of the Northern Hemisphere constellation.

The constellation position of the sun's star.

The ascension took 11 hours.

The temperature is 15 degrees.

The latitudes are 90 and 65 degrees.

It is possible to see the constellation at latitudes between 90 and 65 degrees. To find the lion's mane, first look for the bright star Regulus and then trace the backward question mark known as "The sickle" which is associated with the lion's mane.

The shooting stars will be visible throughout the sky so don't look directly at them. Make sure to look around and move your gaze to nearby constellations as meteors further from the radiant tend to have longer trains and are easier to see.

Lean back and enjoy the view of the Leonids. The secret to a good meteor viewing experience is to take in as much sky as you can. Allow 30 minutes for your eyes to get used to the dark.

If you're interested in learning more about how to photograph the Leonid meteor shower, check out our how to photograph meteors and meteor showers guide.

Infographic with a ref flashlight, woolly hat, flask and a deck chair.

A red flashlight, warm clothing, a hot drink and a comfortable chair are useful during a night of meteor-hunting.   (Image credit: Future)
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When is the best time to view the Leonid meteor shower?

The best time to see the Leonids is between midnight and dawn, according to the Royal Museums. Between November 18 and December 2, there will be a lot of shooting stars.

Additional resources

The National Schools Observatory has a great overview of the shower and how to spot it. NASA has a nice introduction to meteor showers for kids.

Bibliography

There's a chance to see a meteorite in the UK. There's a chance to see a meteorite in the UK. leonid-meteor-shower-when-and-where-see-it-uk

There is a space agency called NASA. The year ended on December 19th. 55P/Tuttle There is a space agency called NASA. There is a new tab at the bottom of the page that says "Asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/55p-tempel-tuttle/ in-depth".

There is a space agency called NASA. August 1 is the last day of the year. There is a person named leondes. There is NASA science. Asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/leonids/in-depth opened in a new tab on the NASA website.