How and when to see shooting star shower in France this November
Consider these dates and locations to get the best views
The Leonids appear to come from the direction of the constellation Leo, and are burning debris from the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle (stock photo of shooting stars)
AstroStar/Shutterstock
The Leonids shooting star shower is known as one of the most beautiful, and it will be visible from France this November. Here is how and when to look up for the best view.
The Leonids are visible every year, as the Earth passes through the debris left from the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. The debris enters our atmosphere and burns up, leaving light trails that we see as shooting stars.
They travel at around 71 kilometres per second, and some may even appear brightly coloured.
When?
The shower will be visible from November 6 to 30, with the height of the shower from November 14 to 21, and the absolute peak overnight from November 17 to 18, around 05:00.
A full Moon is expected overnight on November 15, which could interfere with viewing. This is because the brightness of the Moon could outshine the shooting stars. The best time to view will be the nights before or after the full Moon (November 6-14, and 19-30).
Where?
The best view will be from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, but the shower should be visible - cloud cover permitting - from most of France.
Local website Ouest-France Passion Aquitaine recommends the following locations for the best views:
Pic du Midi (Hautes-Pyrénées): The high-altitude refuges make this a good place for a clear view.
Parc naturel régional des Landes de Gascogne: Ideal due to being far from light pollution.
Plateau de l'Aubrac (Aveyron): A vast natural space that should offer a magical viewpoint.
Dune du Pilat (Gironde): Another high spot; the highest sand dune in Europe.
Read also: French stargazing festival raises awareness of light pollution threat
It also has the following tips for a successful night’s stargazing:
Choose a spot away from light pollution. Avoid cities and find a dark spot for better visibility. The darker the sky, the better the view.
Make yourself comfortable. Bring a chair, and blankets, to stay warm and comfortable.
Be patient: Give yourself at least an hour to observe the sky. Shooting stars appear in waves.
Look east and south-east. This is the direction of the constellation Leo, where the Leonids seem to come from.
This year will offer a fair view, although the next time that the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle will pass close to the Sun will be in May 2031, which is set to produce spectacular views of thousands of shooting stars afterwards.
