A meteor shower that started earlier in November is expected to peak Nov. 16-17, and you might be able to see it in the Wichita skies.
The Leonid meteor shower, which became active Nov. 3, will reach its peak Saturday night into the early morning hours of Sunday. Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the path of the comet, traveling through pieces of debris that burn up into what look like colorful streaks as they reach the Earth's atmosphere.
The Leonid shower occurs once a year in November, originating from the 55P/Tempel-Tuttle comet. The peak is expected to bring about 15 meteors per hour.
NASA reports that the best time to begin viewing the shower's peak is midnight. According to timeanddate.com, the sun in Wichita is expected to set at 5:17 p.m. and rise at 7:12 a.m. on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
But viewing the meteor shower may be difficult in Wichita due to the weather forecast. The National Weather Service is expecting a cloudy night Saturday with a low in the 50s.
If you still want to give it a shot, NASA recommends going to a place without city lights and face your feet toward the east. If you lie flat on your back, you'll get the best view. You should also expect to wait for about 30 minutes while your eyes adjust to the dark. An expert tip is to not look at your phone before viewing the shower, as the blue light from your device can hurt your ability to view the night sky.
Make sure to also dress for the temperature, and bring blankets to stay warm if you're planning on staying outside for a while.
If you miss the shower at its peak, or cannot view it due to the clouds, the shower will continue through Dec. 2.