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Everything you need to know about the Leonid Meteor Shower

Thousands of meteors fly through the sky making swirls. Dark, bare trees stand in front of the bright blue and orange sky.Jamal Nasrallah/Getty

Do you love watching shooting stars? Then keep your eyes peeled as the Leonids are here.

The Leonid meteor shower is believed to be one of the biggest meteor showers of the year, lasting more than three weeks.

This year they started on 6 November and will last until 30 November.

However, the best night to catch them is on the evening of Monday 17 November and into the early hours of Tuesday 18 November.

Read on for more tips on how to spot them...

What are the Leonids?

A blue drawing of a lion on the backdrop of a starry blue night sky. The constellation of Leo is drawn within the lion, to show how the constellation got its name.Alexander Dorofeev/Getty

Leo the Lion constellation

The Leonids are lots of fast and bright shooting stars racing through the sky.

They take their name from the Leo constellation because they seem to shoot from it.

The shower happens every year because of the Comet Tempel-Tuttle.

The comet takes 33 years to go round the sun, and as it travels it leaves a dusty trail of bits of broken astroids and leftover comet particles.

When the Earth passes through this path it causes streaks of light in our atmosphere, which is what we call meteors.

Tips for watching the Leonids

A family sit outside wrapped in warm clothes drinking hot drinks and looking up at the stars.SolStock/Getty

  • Be comfy. Hunting for meteors can take a long time, so being comfortable is key. Make sure to take a chair, wear lots of layers and have some hot chocolate or tea to keep you warm.

  • Let your eyes adjust. The Leonids can be seen with the naked eye, which means you don't need binoculars or a telescope. But it is important you let your eyes adjust to the darkness, as it means you'll be able to see more stars!

  • Avoid light pollution. Finding a safe location that's away from street lights and houses will increase your chances of seeing the meteors.

  • Wide open spaces. The meteors can be seen from all parts of the sky, so being in an area where your view isn't blocked by buildings or trees will be useful.

Have you seen a shooting star before? What's the coolest thing you've spotted whilst stargazing?