The annual Leonid meteor shower will reach its peak on Friday, Nov. 18, with as many as 15 meteors an hour under clear skies, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its November astronomical diary.
PAGASA said the Leonid meteor shower, produced by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, can be observed from Nov. 6 to 30, with its peak activity occurring on Nov. 18.
“The meteor shower is expected to produce 15 meteors per hour and will be active once the radiant, Leo, rises in the northeastern sky around 12 a.m. until before sunrise,” it pointed out.
“The number of visible meteors increases as the radiant ascends to its highest point in the sky around 5 a.m.,” it added.
PAGASA said meteor showers are observable through the naked eye, and no special equipment such as telescopes or binoculars is needed.
“Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from the city lights under clear and moonless sky conditions,” it added.
PAGASA said the skies will be clear to observe the event as the “presence of a waning crescent Moon presents minimal interference with the meteor shower observation.”