When the Leonids fly across the sky, stargazers know that the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle is nearby. Every year, the iconic meteor shower offers a spectacular show… and experts say this weekend is going to be particularly special.

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 meteor shower is expected to reach peak activity during the early morning hours of Nov. 17 and Nov. 18, the American Meteor Society (AMS) reports. The annual shower, whose name originates from the constellation Leo the Lion,

The Leonid meteor shower, considered a major shower, will bring along fireballs and "Earth-grazer" meteors. How to watch.

The Leonid meteor showers are among the night skies' most spectacular. Here's where to look and how to best see the spectacle from Visalia.

This particular shower comes from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which takes about 33 years to orbit around the sun and back near Earth, according to NASA's website. The comet was "discovered" twice: first in 1865 by Ernst Temple and then in 1866 by Horace Tuttle, which is where the comet's namesake comes from.

"Watching during the early morning, when the moon is lower in the sky, can improve your chances of seeing more meteors."

The November supermoon will still be almost full when the Leonid meteor shower peaks this weekend WASHINGTON -- It's a treat to see a supermoon. But that bright glowing orb will still be almost full when the Leonid meteor shower peaks this weekend,

An annual meteor shower known for its fast movement and explosions of color that persist longer than average will peak this weekend, though experts say the shower’s peak won’t reach a maximum until just before the next century.