The annual Leonids meteor shower is due to peak next week, hopefully giving stargazers a treat to brighten up the dark winter evenings. The Leonids are due to show between November 3 and December 2 this year, and predicted to peak on the night of November 16, according to the American Meteor Society.

The Northern and Southern Taurid meteor showers grace the skies each year for more than two months and both branches will peak at different times in November. They aren't known for creating displays as spectacular as the Perseids or the Orionids, but they have the chance to be rich in fireballs, according to the American Meteorologic Society.

The Leonid meteor shower streaks across the night sky in November. Here's what to know, including when is the best time to see it and where to look.

The Leonid meteor shower peaks in North America overnight from Nov. 17 to 18, with fast-moving fireballs possible in US skies.

That trip provided an unexpected treat, as the Leonid meteors hit dramatic storm levels on the morning of the 17th. Meteor came fast and furious towards local sunrise, often lighting up the desert floor like celestial photoflashes in the sky.