The Leonid meteor shower is peaking this weekend — here's how to see the stunning annual event

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November 16, 2018 8:45 PM

Stargazers can witness the Leonid meteor shower brighten up the sky during the early morning hours of Saturday, November 17 and Sunday, November 18.

A Leonid meteor — a fragment of Comet Tempel-Tuttle — streaks across the night sky.

The Leonid meteor shower, known for its bright streaks across the night sky, will reach its viewing peak this weekend.
You can see the Leonids between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. in whatever time zone you're in on November 17th and 18th.
About 20 meteors are expected to appear per hour. Parts of the western and southeastern US will have the best viewing conditions.
The best Leonids views are usually from the countryside or open fields far from city lights.

The best time to see this year's Leonids peak is between 12 AM and 6 AM in all time zones throughout the US on November 17th and 18th. The best viewing times are after moonset (in the early morning when the moon sets into the Earth's horizon) and right before dawn.

If you meteor-gaze after moonset, there will be be less light to interfere with your viewing. And with this weekend's moon shining at a nearly full waxing gibbous phase, it's better to look out for the Leonids with no moon in the sky at all.

Along with moonlight, any light pollution should be avoided in order to really see the Leonids. For the best views, EarthSky suggests going to the countryside or an open field where there are few lights or trees.

Stargazers in Amman prepare to watch the Leonid meteor shower. BusinessInsider

Viewers in the western US (from Nevada up through Minnesota) and states in the Southeast are predicted to have the best viewing conditions. Areas in the Southwest and southern Plains will likely be covered in clouds, which would make seeing the Leonids more difficult. Parts of the country between Colorado and Illinois could also have trouble seeing the shower, since snow is expected to fall across that region this weekend.

The Northeast will also get some clouds, and brisk winds could make it unpleasant to be outside in the middle of the night, according to

This meteor shower got its name from the Leo the Lion star constellation, from which the dust particles disperse and radiate.

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