Leonids: the unmissable meteor shower in November's starry sky

We have already written a post suggesting what to look for in the skies in November. Among the must-see events is a spectacular and growing meteor shower, the Leonids. But the surprises do not end there: the star shows also include the observation of planets such as Venus, Jupiter and Saturn.

First of all, Jupiter will be easy to spot in the night sky, as long as there are no clouds. The planet sets just before sunrise, just as Venus begins to rise, so if you get up with a clear view of the horizon, you have a chance to see both planets on opposite sides of the sky.

The Crescent Moon

As Digital Trends recommends, the morning of November 9 would be ideal to catch a glimpse of a beautiful crescent moon hanging just below Venus in the early morning sky before dawn. A week later, on November 17, a low crescent moon can be seen in the southwest, this time alone, in the twilight after sunset.

The "debut" of Saturn and the Leonids.

After sunset on November 20, Saturn will make its debut. To best enjoy the show, we suggest looking south to see the planet just above a quarter moon, joined by the bright stars Fomalhaut and Altair.

Four days later, a nearly full moon can be seen near Jupiter after sunset. As November draws to a close, check out Venus rising in the morning with the bright star Spica nearby (Spica is actually two large stars orbiting each other).

This month is also a prime time for the annual Leonid meteor shower. The swarm, which includes dust particles from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, peaks on the night of November 17, with the greatest number of meteors visible between midnight and dawn on the 18th.

Leonids tend to be bright, and many produce long trains that last for several seconds after the initial flash of light, find a safe, dark spot away from bright lights, lie down and look straight up.

The most spectacular meteor showers you can see every year

Meteor showers are spectacular astronomical phenomena that occur when Earth passes in the path of space debris left behind by comets or asteroids. Each year there are several meteor showers that provide a fascinating celestial spectacle. Here are some of the most spectacular ones you can see in the sky each year:

• Perseids (August): This is one of the most famous meteor showers of the year. The peak of the Perseids usually occurs in mid-August and you can expect to see up to 60-100 meteors per hour. This swarm is caused by debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle.
• Geminids (December): This swarm is considered one of the most intense and spectacular of the year. It occurs in mid-December, with a peak that can produce more than 100 meteors per hour. This swarm is associated with the asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
• Leonids (November): The Leonids are known for their occasional "bangs" of activity. This swarm peaks in mid-November and can produce up to 15-20 meteors per hour. It is caused by the comet Tempel-Tuttle.
• Quadrantids (January): This swarm peaks in the first week of January and can produce up to 40-100 meteors per hour. It is not associated with a comet, but with the minor planet 2003 EH1.
• Orionids (October): This shower peaks in late October and can produce about 20 meteors per hour. It is associated with Halley's Comet.
• Taurids (October-November): This shower is known for its often larger and brighter meteors. It lasts for several weeks between October and November and you can expect to see about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is associated with various pieces of space debris, including Comet Encke.