Two meteor showers to look out for in West Midlands skies this November

Stargazers will have the chance to catch two annual meteor showers in the coming weeks.

There’s a chance for residents to catch two spectacular meteor showers - the Taurid and the Leonids - in November, with several dark-sky locations in the West Midlands offering ideal conditions to catch the celestial displays.

The Taurid meteor shower is known for its slow-moving meteors and long duration, taking place each year from late October through November.

The Northern Taurids will be active from October 20 to December 10, reaching their peak on November 12. The shower will peak during a waxing crescent Moon, which is expected to set relatively early, providing darker skies later in the evening and better conditions for spotting meteors.

The Leonid meteor shower, meanwhile, is renowned for its fast-moving and bright meteors and is typically one of the more prolific annual displays.

This year, the Leonids will be active from November 6 to November 30, with the shower expected to peak overnight on November 17 and into the early hours of November 18.

Although the Moon will be in its waxing gibbous phase, it is expected to set shortly before midnight, giving stargazers a better opportunity to view the remainder of the peak under darker skies.

Where to watch the meteor showers in the West Midlands

While meteors can be spotted from many locations, choosing somewhere away from artificial light can significantly improve the chances of seeing the displays.

Our region’s hills and countryside offer some excellent spots for stargazing, with several locations boasting exceptionally dark skies.

Cannock Chase in Staffordshire offers plenty of locations that are a reasonable distance away from unnatural light sources, and plenty of open fields to maximise viewing range.

Beacon Hill in Sedgley offers great elevation to see the stars, and is a reasonable distance from many man-made light sources.

Turners Hill is the highest hill in the West Midlands, with a peak height of 889ft above sea level.

Barr Beacon in Walsall is one of the highest points in Walsall, offering large, open spaces that are perfect for viewing the sky.

Top tips from the experts

A spokesperson for Royal Museums Greenwich said: “Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game, so it's best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while.

“They can be seen with the naked eye so there's no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.”