Leonid Meteor Shower and Beaver Moon 2024

Skywatchers in the UK will have the opportunity to witness the Leonid meteor shower, expected to peak on November 17-18, despite concerns about potential snow clouds affecting visibility. The Leonids, known for their fast and bright meteors originating from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, can produce up to 15 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. Concurrently, the final supermoon of 2024, the Beaver Moon, illuminated skies worldwide on November 15, providing a brilliant display that was visible in regions including New York, Cyprus, and Pakistan. This supermoon marks the end of a series of four supermoons for the year, with the next not expected until March 2025. While the supermoon offered a stunning visual spectacle, its brightness, along with potential cloud cover, could adversely affect viewing conditions for the Leonid meteor shower. Despite these challenges, the celestial events have drawn considerable attention, offering viewers a chance to enjoy rare and beautiful astronomical phenomena.