When and where to see the Leonid meteor shower this weekend in Birmingham and the West Midlands

In 2024, the famous Leonid meteor shower will compete with moonlight from a waning gibbous moon on the shower’s peak morning, November 18.

You might also try watching on the morning of November 17.

When to look

• The shower runs from November 3 to December 2, but the best time to see it is around November 18.

Where to look

• Find a dark location away from city lights. The constellation Leo will be in the east around midnight, but you can best see the meteors up to 30 degrees away from Leo.

What to expect

• The meteors will streak across the night sky
• The Leonids are named after the constellation Leo, which is where the radiant appears to be.

Why to look

• Every 33 years, the Leonids produce meteor storms when hundreds or thousands of shooting stars can be seen.
• The next Leonid storm may not be until 2032-2034.

If you manage to get any pictures of the Leonid meteor shower then we'd love to see them. Pop them over on our social pages or email [email protected]