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However, patience and a little luck with the weather are required, as viewing conditions vary greatly.
Leonids in the sky
The Leonids are an annually recurring shower of shooting stars named after the constellation Leo (Latin for Lion). They occur when the Earth passes through the dust trail of the comet Tempel-Tuttle. The small particles burn up in the atmosphere, producing the luminous trails we see as shooting stars.
When and how can you see the Leonids?
The best time to observe them is early morning, especially in the night’s second half. The Leonids are active until 30 November, although at around ten meteors per hour, they tend to be one of the less intense shows. However, their speed is impressive: at around 70 kilometres per second, they literally fly across the sky.
Weather conditions as a decisive factor
Not everywhere in Austria will have a clear view of the sky. While the best conditions often prevail in the mountain regions, high fog makes observation difficult at lower altitudes.
Clear visibility in the mountains
If you are travelling in alpine regions, you have a good chance of seeing shooting stars.
Limited visibility in the lowlands: High fog often dominates here, making observation impossible.
What makes the Leonids special?
Even if the Leonids cannot compete with other shows, such as the Perseids (in August), in terms of intensity, their speed is fascinating. The meteors are extremely fast and occasionally leave behind short, bright, light trails.
- source: wetter.at/picture: Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
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