Leonids: Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight

The Leonid meteor shower, an annual spectacle in the sky, will reach its peak this evening, November 17th. Residents of Bulgaria are expected to have the opportunity to observe this impressive astronomical phenomenon around 8:00 PM, according to information from the publication "Amateur Astronomer's Guide 2025", published by the Department of Astronomy at the Faculty of Physics of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

The Leonids are known for their meteors, which are characterized by high speed. These space particles can pass through the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of about 70 kilometers per second. Under ideal observation conditions, stargazers can expect to see up to 15 "falling stars" per hour from the Leonid meteor shower. The optimal times for observing meteor showers are usually between midnight and before sunrise. The radiant, or the apparent point from which the meteors appear to originate, is located in the constellation Leo, from which the shower gets its name.

The Leonids are one of the oldest and fastest meteor phenomena. The parent body of this shower is the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. The meteors move at a speed of about 70 kilometers per second, making them among the fastest. For this reason, their effective observation with binoculars and telescopes can be a challenge.

The Leonid meteor shower is active in the period from November 6th to 30th.

The publication "Amateur Astronomer's Guide" is in its sixth consecutive year and is a valuable resource for astronomical enthusiasts. The book provides detailed descriptions of upcoming astronomical events for the year, as well as useful observation tips for amateur astronomers. Its author is Pencho Markishki, a physicist from the Institute of Astronomy with NAO at BAS and from the Department of Astronomy at the Faculty of Physics of Sofia University (SU) "St. Kliment Ohridski". The publication of University Publishing House "St. Kliment Ohridski" is distributed free of charge to students, physics and astronomy teachers in secondary schools, students from astronomy circles and participants in various astronomy schools. In addition, an electronic version of the publication is freely available on the website of the Department of Astronomy.