10 stunning meteors an hour to shoot across the sky - where and when to see Leonids

Stargazers could catch a glimpse of dozens of meteors this weekend. The Leonid meteor shower will send up to 10 meteors an hour shooting across the sky this weekend.

According to the Royal Museums Greenwich the Leonids are usually one of the more prolific annual meteor showers, with fast, bright meteors. This year it is active between November 6 to 30 however for the best views it is set to peak in the early hours of Monday, November 18.

The Leonid meteor shower is associated with the Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. The radiant (the point where the meteors seem to stream from) is at the head or 'sickle' of the constellation Leo the Lion, hence the name.

As the comet follows its path around the sun, it leaves a path of tiny debris. The cometary debris enters Earth's atmosphere at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per second, vaporising and causing the streaks of light we call meteors.

How best to see the Leonid meteor shower?

Experts at the Royal Museums Greenwich say: "Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game, so it's best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while. They can be seen with the naked eye so there's no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.

"However, if you miss the peak, the shower continues at a reduced rate for several days either side, so there should be plenty of chances to see the display. For the best conditions, you want to find a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.

"The meteors can be seen in all parts of the sky, so it’s good to be in a wide open space where you can scan the night sky with your eyes. But if you trace the paths that the meteors take, they seem to originate from the constellation of Leo.

"In 2024 the Leonid meteor shower's maximum occurs a few days after Full Moon, making viewing conditions quite unfavourable as the Moon's natural light pollution will affect visibility."

Shyam Balaji, researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King’s College London, agreed saying: “To look for the Leonids, choose a spot away from city lights and other sources of light pollution. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Leo, which rises in the east around midnight.

“However, meteors can be seen all across the sky. Since the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Leo, this is how the shower gets its name.

“This is where you should look. Bring a reclining chair, sleeping bag or blanket. Lie flat on your back with your feet pointing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.”