Starwatch: the Leonids meteor shower reaches its peak

Wrap up warm, grab a deck chair and take your place to spot about 10-15 bright meteors an hour

It is time again for one of the more reliable meteor showers of the year: the Leonids. Active between early November and early December, the shower experiences a sharp peak this week, expected on the night of 16-17 November.

The meteors take their name from the constellation Leo, the lion, and appear to emanate from the region of the lion's head", an asterism known as the sickle because of its shape.