There's an epic meteor shower happening this month—here's how to watch
Everything to know about the Leonid meteor shower
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Amateur astronomers are in for a treat this November as we move towards the peak of the Leonid meteor shower. The peak is taking place on the night of Friday, November 17-Saturday, November 18. Under optimal conditions (clear skies after the moon has set), it should be possible to see 10-15 meteor showers per hour. The meteors will appear from the east but will be visible throughout the night sky. If you’re looking to catch the Leonids this year, here’s everything you need to know, including where and when to see them, and what you’ll want to bring to a viewing.
What is the Leonid meteor shower 2023?
Meteors refer to debris entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The friction from re-entry causes the debris to heat up and become visible from the ground as streaks of light. The meteors that we call the Leonids, after their apparent origin in the constellation of Leo, are created by the Earth passing through the debris trail of the Tempel-Tuttle comet.
When is the Leonid meteor shower 2023?
The Leonid meteor shower is visible annually. This year, the meteor shower is visible from November 3 to December 2, peaking on the night of Friday, November 17 through the morning of Saturday, November 18.
Where can I see the Leonid meteor shower 2023?
The neat thing about meteor showers, compared to other astronomical phenomena like eclipses, is that they’re visible throughout the planet. As long as you’re in a sufficiently dark spot (think: countryside or national park), you'll be able to see them if you look toward the east. Be sure to give your eyes enough time to adjust to the darkness, as they can be faint.
Products you need to view the Leonid meteor shower 2023
A camping chair
You could stand for the duration of the shower, but why would you want to when you can sit back and relax in a comfy camping chair? One of the best camping chairs you can buy is the Helinox Chair Zero, as it’s weather- and UV-resistant, lightweight, and easily packable.
The Helinox Chair Zero is lightweight and easily packable for trips.
A coat
Seeing as the shower peaks during the middle of the night in mid-November, chances are the weather will be quite chilly. To stay warm while catching the light show, we recommend wearing a quality coat from Orolay. This brand has warm coats in a variety of colors and styles.
Given the time of year, you'll want to stay warm with a quality coat as you're viewing the meteor shower.
A water bottle
You’ll likely find yourself thirsty while waiting to see the meteor shower, so it’s a good idea to pack a water bottle for viewing if you plan to stay for the duration. If you’re shopping for a new one, you can do no better than Owala’s FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle. This water bottle is great because of its leakproof lid and insulation that keeps water cold for up to 24 hours.
Our favorite water bottle keeps water cold for up to 24 hours.
A travel mug
If you’d prefer to stay warm and drink coffee or tea during the shower, try using a travel mug instead, specifically our favorite, the Zojirushi SM-KHE48. We love this mug because it’s easy to carry and retains temperature well for hours.
Keep your favorite drink warm using the Zojirushi travel mug.
A portable charger
Your phone’s battery might be struggling by the time you decide to pack up for home if you stay to view the shower for several hours. We recommend bringing along a portable charger like the best one we’ve tested, the Mophie Powerstation PD, which is compact and charges devices quickly.
The Mophie Powerstation will charge your phone quickly.
Binoculars
For those looking to get an even closer look at the meteors as they streak across the night sky, we recommend using a quality pair of binoculars like the Nikon Aculon A211 10-22x50. Not only does this pair of binoculars go up to 22x magnification, but it also has a large field of view.
Bring a pair of binoculars to get clarity during your meteor shower trip.
A phone tripod
Even if you have steady hands, you’ll want a tripod to place your phone on for the perfect video or picture of the meteor shower. One of the best tripods you can buy is the Bluehorn Selfie Stick iPhone Tripod. This is a great pick because it’s affordable, compact, and can rotate 270 degrees.
This affordable, compact tripod also doubles as a selfie stick.