2024 Leonid meteor shower peaks at dawn on Monday

Arab Weather - The Jeddah Astronomical Society announced that the skies of the Arab world will witness the peak of the Leonid meteor shower at dawn on Monday, November 18, as this shower is expected to produce between 10 and 15 meteors per hour at its peak.

Observation conditions for this year

The association explained in a post on its Facebook page that the conditions for observing meteors this year are not ideal due to the full moon, as its bright light will make most meteors dim and unclear. It advised observing the sky when the moon is close to the horizon, to have a better chance of seeing the meteors.

Leonid meteor activity

1. Annual activity period: November 6-30.
2. Ideal observation time: Before sunrise, observing the eastern horizon from a dark location away from city lights.
3. Origin: The Leonids are caused by Comet Tempel-Total, which returns to the inner solar system every 33 years, leaving behind dusty debris that causes this phenomenon.

Tips for Watching the Leonids

1. No special equipment required; visible to the naked eye.
2. It is recommended to give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness to improve your chances of seeing meteors, even the faintest ones.
3. Meteors can be observed from all parts of the sky.

Celestial scene accompanying

In addition to the Leonids meteors, the pre-dawn sky will be adorned by a number of bright stars and celestial bodies, such as:

1. lion heart
2. Canopus
3. Aldebaran
4. The blind spot
5. Gemini and Taurus stars
6. Pleiades cluster

Enjoy a magical astronomical view and the opportunity to observe a special phenomenon, even with the challenges of moonlight!

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