Leonid meteor shower 2023: Here's when it peaks and the best places to see it in Arizona
The Leonid meteor shower is back for another year of space glitz caused by the Earth passing through the debris field left behind by the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. Every November, the dust and rock particles create a dazzling display of meteor streaks across the night sky as they incinerate in the atmosphere.
Here is everything to know about the 2023 Leonid meteor shower, including the peak viewing dates and where and when in Arizona you'll have the best chance of seeing the peak display.
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What is the Leonid meteor shower?
The Leonids are a rather active meteor shower that is easily seen in the Northern and Southern hemispheres every November.
“As comets orbit the sun, they leave dust behind in their orbits,” said Theodore Kareta, a postdoctoral researcher at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.
“Meteor showers occur when the Earth crosses one of these cometary dust trails and the dust burns up in our atmosphere. How much dust is in the trail, at what angle the Earth crosses it and what time of year this happens are all factors in where to look, when to look, and whether or not a meteor shower is really stunning or a real dud.”
In the case of the Leonids, Kareta says the dust we see burn up in the atmosphere is from the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, a Halley-type comet discovered in 1866 with a 33-year orbit.
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What are the Leonid meteor shower dates?
The Leonids will be active Nov. 3-Dec. 2, 2023. They will peak on Nov. 17 and 18.
What time is the Leonids meteor shower?
“The Leonids are a relatively decent meteor shower most years. Seeing one to two dozen meteors per hour from a dark sky site is a reasonable expectation,” said Kareta.
“If people are looking for a suggestion, I say get up early, before the sun comes up, on the morning of the 18th and sit on your back porch with a cup of coffee looking up and east.”
Why are they called Leonids?
“The Leonids get their name from the constellation Leo, which starts rising around midnight this time of year," Kareta said.
Where are the Leonids visible?
“People should look towards the east from a dark sky location. Think national forests, state parks and other places far from big cities,” Kareta said.
“If you're trying to see meteors with your naked eyes, you've got to give your eyes time to adjust. Some meteors can be faint, so in addition to finding a dark place to stare at the night sky from, you should also give yourself 20-30 minutes to let your eyes get used to the low-light conditions.”
What is the best place to observe the Leonid meteor shower?
For the best viewing experience consider visiting remote desert areas that are far from city lights or head to higher elevations and mountainous regions.
Arizona has numerous excellent places to observe the night sky, including designated Dark Sky Parks such as Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in northern Arizona and Kartchner Caverns State Park and Oracle State Park in southern Arizona.
How long do the Leonids last?
The peak can be brief, lasting a few hours or so, and it's often during the predawn hours when the radiant point of the Leonids is high in the sky.
“While the Leonids are probably going to be the most active on November 17th or so, they'll be visible all month. There will just be fewer meteors to see the further you get from that date,” said Kareta.
When is the next meteor shower?
There will be two more meteor showers in 2023:
Geminids: Nov. 19-Dec. 24, peaking Dec. 13-14.
Ursids: Dec. 13-24, peaking Dec. 21-22.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: When is the next meteor shower? How to see the Leonids in 2023
