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We may all be forced to stay home for the next few weeks, but we can enjoy an incredible sight in the night skies.
In November and December we will see spectacular meteor showers in the sky.
People will be able to see the wonderful meteor showers of Taurids, Leonids, Geminids and Ursids from their back gardens, balconies and windows.
With lockdown measures in place, it means pollution should be lower, allowing for better conditions for spotting stars, constellations and meteors.
During the height of the first block in March, many star watchers reported that the reduced nocturnal activity allowed for darker night skies, which made space and stars even easier to see.
When are meteor showers visible in November and December?
The Taurids
One of the longest-lasting meteor showers, the Taurids started in October and will continue until November.
While not as frequent as some other showers (up to 10 per hour), Taurids are normally beautiful and offer astrology lovers plenty of opportunities to spot them.
Slowly moving, meteors appear when Earth collides with the debris of Comet Encke.
With the widespread flow, the shower can be separated into two segments; the Southern Taurids, which occur between 25 September and 25 November, and the Northern Taurids, between 12 October and 2 December (with a peak from 10 to 11 November).
The Leonids
Often one of the most prolific showers of the year, with fast and bright meteors, Leonids occur when Earth collides with debris from Comet Tempel-Tuttle at speeds of up to 70 kilometers per second.
Named after the constellation from which it appears, Leo the Lion, the rain produces bright meteors with thin trains and should be visible in the UK on the horizon.
Leonid meteors are normally visible between November 15 and November 20 and are expected to peak on November 17-18, between midnight and sunrise.
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The Geminids
One of the last major meteor showers of 2020, Geminids occur when Earth collides with debris from asteroid 3200 Phaethon and often produces a reliable show of very bright and moderately fast meteors.
Unlike many other large showers in that it originates from the debris of an asteroid (rather than a comet), Geminids often produce multi-colored showers with displays of white, yellow, green, red and blue often visible.
These are caused by metals such as sodium or calcium in the shower.
Producing an hourly meteor velocity of up to 100 at its peak, the rain appears to radiate from the constellation Gemini near the star Castor. Geminids are normally seen between December 14-17 and are expected to peak on December 14-15.
The Ursids
Although the number of meteors is likely to be low (about 5 per hour), the Ursids are likely to produce beautiful streaks of light from the debris left by comet 8P / Tuttle and appear to radiate from the Ursa Minor constellation.
Visible between December 17th and 25th, the shower will peak just before Christmas on December 21st and 22nd.
In 2020, a crescent moon means less natural light pollution and a greater chance of seeing meteors and shooting stars.
How to spot stars and meteor showers
When it comes to choosing the best night to spot stars and meteors, it’s important to consider the weather forecast and moonlight.
Night skies are darker when the moon is waxing or waning, and meteors are also more visible on a clear night.
Greenwich Royal Observatory astronomer Anna Ross said: “To have the best chance of spotting them, find the darkest area possible.
“Wait about 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness to see the small points of light that travel very fast in the sky. Since meteors move so quickly, it is best to look up without using telescopes or binoculars so as to be able to see as much of the sky as possible. “
Apps like Star Walk or Google Sky can also help people spot stars and constellations more easily.
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Where you should be stargazing
You won’t be able to leave your home for stargazing due to lockdown restrictions.
Those living in rural areas generally have the best chance of spotting meteor showers and stars from their gardens thanks to the lower levels of light pollution.
Although many with dark gardens, balconies or back roofs may still be able to spot them.
Ashley King, a planetary scientist based at the Natural History Museum, said: “It is not easy to observe space from cities, however, there are a few spots you can go. The general advice is to climb as high as possible on the buildings and minimize the light in your vicinity. “
While meteor showers are best seen in darker places, those in metropolitan areas still have a good chance of spotting meteors on a clear night if light pollution is low and are able to find a private area with minimal light around. to them, like like on a private balcony or roof.
Because when the lockdown is over, UK national parks often have very low levels of light pollution and the Isle of Wight has some of the best dark sky sites in the UK, including Artherfield, Brighstone Beach, Needles Head and Culver Down.
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