When and where to see shooting stars

• The Leonids appear to come from the constellation Leo the Lion.
• Some of the biggest meteor showers ever have been the Leonids.
• Also known as “shooting stars”, meteors are actually residual comet dust.

Be sure to keep an eye on the sky next week: The peak of Leonid meteor showers will be visible over the night sky in late November 16 and especially the beginning of November 17th.

The Leonids appear to come from the constellation Leo (hence their name) in the east, but they will be visible all the way across the sky.

Some of the biggest meteor showers ever have been the Leonids. For some years they have been a full-blown meteor “storm”. The 1833 Leonid meteor storm included rates as high as 100,000 meteors per hour, EarthSky said.

However, no such storm is expected this year.

Under ideal conditions, you can see 10 to 15 meteors on top of the shower, according to EarthSky. In 2021, unfortunately, we will have to deal with a growing gibbous moon, which will make it difficult to see weaker meteors. The best time to see it is just before dawn on November 17th, after the moon has set.

Another heavenly spectacle:The longest partial lunar eclipse of this century is coming: How to see the frost moon

Also known as “shooting stars”, meteors are actually residual comet dust. It is dust and dirt the size of peas and sand that crumbles from the Temple-Tuttle comet as it swings past Earth. (The Earth’s orbit carries it straight through the waste track.)

The dust and waste ignite when they hit our atmosphere.

Leonids are also fast: They travel at 44 miles per second and are considered to be some of the fastest meteors out there, NASA said.

Here are some tips for watching meteor showers from NASA:

• Find an area far away from city or street lights.
• Come prepared for cool weather with a sleeping bag, a blanket or a lawn chair.
• Orient yourself with your feet to the east, lie flat on your back and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.

In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adjust and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient – the show lasts until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.