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Over the next couple of months, the UK will see several incredible shows in the skies.
From shooting stars to meteors, the skies over Essex will be illuminated by several magnificent spectacles.
Before the end of the year, the meteor showers of the Taurids, Leonids, Geminids and Ursids are all set to light up the sky.
The clearest skies will be perfect for stargazing.
Whether you’re gazing at the stars from your garden, balcony or one of Essex’s many open spaces, the displays are bound to be jaw-dropping.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming meteor showers
Where is the best place for stargazing?
(Image: Getty Images / iStockphoto)
Normally, the best place for stargazing is from one of the UK’s national parks, however with a lockout that is not possible.
We are told to stay home whenever we can, but that doesn’t mean we can’t gaze at the stars.
Dark areas are the best places to gaze at the stars due to a lower level of light pollution.
If you live in a rural area you have the best chance of seeing showers, but those in cities may still be able to spot them.
The best place to go is in a garden or on a balcony.
The higher and further you can get from the buildings, the better.
Meteor showers are very easy to see on clear nights, so the weather plays an important role in their visibility.
When are the meteor showers?
(Image: Getty Images / iStockphoto)
November and December will see several meteor showers fill the sky.
The Taurids
The Taurids are one of the longest lasting meteor showers we can see.
It started in October, but there is still plenty of time to admire it.
This downpour is not as frequent as some of the others, with around 10 meteors sighted per hour, but it does provide some of the most beautiful to watch.
Meteors move slowly, which means we are much more likely to spot them.
They appear when Earth collides with the debris of Comet Encke.
These meteors are widespread and you may have seen some of them before.
The Taurids are divided into two, the Southern Taurids, which occur between September 25 and November 25, and the Northern Taurids, between October 12 and December 2.
Your best chance of spotting them is November 10 and 11, when they should peak.
The Leonids
Described as one of the most “prolific” showers of the year, The Leonids is sure to provide an incredible sight.
The meteors of this rain are fast and bright, moving up to an incredible speed of 70 kilometers per second.
This downpour occurs when Earth collides with debris from Comet Tempel-Tuttle.
It takes its name from the constellation from which it appears, Leo the Lion.
Meteors, which have trains of fire, should be visible from Earth to the horizon.
Leonids can normally be seen between November 15-20, and this year they will peak between November 17-18 between midnight and sunrise.
The Geminids
One of the last big showers of 2020 will be the Geminids.
They occur when Earth collides with debris from asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
This normally produces very bright and moderately fast meteors that you can watch.
Geminids are a different type of meteor shower because it comes from the debris of an asteroid.
Because of this, they produce a beautiful, colorful shower.
You can often see screens filled with white, yellow, green, red, and blue that are caused by metals like sodium or calcium in the shower.
At its peak, Geminids can produce 100 meteors per hour and are amazing to watch.
It is normally visible between December 14 and 17 and is expected to peak on December 14-15 this year.
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The Ursids
Ursids are unlikely to produce many meteors, but the ones they produce (about five per hour) are astounding to watch.
It produces a beautiful streak of light from the debris left behind by Comet 8P / Tuttle and appears to radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor.
This display is just in time for Christmas and can add a real sense of magic to the holiday season.
It is normally visible between December 17th and 25th, and is expected to peak between December 21st and 22nd this year.
For 2020 there will be a crescent moon, which means there is an even greater chance of spotting Ursids.
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