A supermoon is always a captivating sight, but this weekend, its brilliant glow may overshadow the peak of the Leonid meteor shower. Viewers can anticipate only the brightest meteors piercing through the luminous night sky, as the nearly full moon will obscure the majority of these high-speed celestial streaks.
The Leonids are renowned for their fast-moving meteors, which streak across the sky at speeds of up to 44 miles per second. However, this year, the viewing experience will be compromised by the almost full moon, which will be 98% illuminated at the zenith of the shower’s activity this Sunday. Shyam Balaji of King’s College London advises meteor enthusiasts to observe during the early morning hours when the moon is lower on the horizon to improve their chances of spotting meteors.
Under ideal conditions, this meteor shower can produce approximately 15 visible meteors per hour. The Leonid meteor shower will continue through December 2, offering multiple nights of potential viewing opportunities.
Meteors, often referred to as shooting stars, are the result of space debris entering Earth’s atmosphere and heating up due to air resistance. This interaction causes the surrounding air to glow and creates a fiery trail visible as a streak of light across the sky. The Leonids, in particular, originate from the debris of the comet Tempel-Tuttle.
Viewing meteor showers requires no special equipment, just a dark sky away from city lights. They are best observed between midnight and the early pre-dawn hours, under clear skies when the moon is at its smallest waning phase. To maximize the experience, avoid looking at your phone, as adjusting your eyes to the darkness is crucial.
For those eager to catch future meteor showers, the meteor society regularly updates its list of upcoming events, including peak viewing times and moonlight conditions. The next major event is the Geminid meteor shower, which is set to peak in mid-December.
