Leonid Meteor shower peaks tonight: Find out when, where, how to spot it

Get ready, stargazers, as the Leonid meteor shower is peaking tonight.

This yearly celestial delight makes it look like dozens of ‘shooting stars’ are all shooting out from the constellation Leo.

What’s special about them? Let’s dive deep to find out here.

The name 'Leonids' is derived from the location of its radiant, which lies within the constellation Leo.

The Leonids, which peak during the middle of November each year, are considered to be a major shower, though meteor rates are often as low as about three meteors per hour.

It’s an annual celestial event where it appears as if a large number of “shooting stars” are radiating from the constellation Leo, known for its fast and bright meteors.

The ideal viewing time to spot Leonids is late at night on November 16 until dawn on November 17.

The Leonids are among the fastest, travelling at a tremendous speed of 71 kilometers (44 miles) per second, as reported by NASA.

These meteors are also known for producing dramatic fireballs that leave brilliant streaks across the sky.

During this time, the constellation Leo will be high in the sky, and you can use the bright planet Jupiter to its upper right as a guide.

When to go: The absolute best time is from late night on November 16 right through until the dawn on November 17.

Where to look: Face east and find the constellation Leo high in the sky.

A great tip is to look for the super-bright planet Jupiter, which will be hanging out just up and to the right of Leo-it’s perfect guidepost.

Pro tip: Don’t stare directly at Leo itself. For the longest and most impressive trails, let your gaze wander a patch of sky about four fists (held at arm’s length) above it.

While the Leonids are famous for their rare storm-level displays with thousands of meteors per hour, the next such major event is not forecast to happen until 2099, when Earth will next pass through a dense part of the comet’s debris trail.