South African stargazers are in for a treat this month as one of the most anticipated annual meteor showers reaches its peak.
The Leonid meteor shower is expected to light up South Africa’s skies between 17 and 18 November, and it’s not to be missed.
Known for producing fast, bright meteors, the Leonids should be clearly visible across much of the country, provided the weather cooperates. Here’s how best to see them…
What are the Leonids?
The Leonids originate from debris left behind by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which crosses Earth’s orbit every 33 years.
Each November, our planet passes through this trail of dust and particles, burning them up in the atmosphere and producing streaks of light across the night sky.
The Leonids have a bit of a dramatic past. In 1833, the shower famously produced a “meteor storm” seen across North America, with tens of thousands of meteors per hour. While no such storm is expected this year, even a modest Leonid display remains one of the most striking sky shows of the year.
Astronomers expect this year’s display to be steady rather than spectacular, with an average of 10 to 15 meteors per hour visible under dark skies.
The good news is that the moon will be in a waning crescent phase, meaning less light interference and better visibility.
Best time to watch
The Leonids are most active in the early hours before dawn, when the constellation Leo rises higher above the eastern horizon.
The shower will be visible from anywhere in South Africa, but rural areas away from city lights will offer the clearest skies.
For the best experience, observers should head outside after midnight, let their eyes adjust to the darkness for about 20 minutes, and simply look up. Meteors will appear to radiate from the direction of Leo, but can streak across any part of the sky.
