The Leonid meteor shower, visible Nov. 3–Dec. 2, is expected to peak late on Nov. 16 into the early hours of Nov. 17 under minimal moonlight. Experts estimate about 10–15 meteors per hour at peak in dark, clear skies. The fast Leonids (≈44 miles/71 km per second) originate from comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle and can produce bright, colorful fireballs. Allow ~30 minutes for your eyes to adjust and watch from a dark location.
Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Nov 16–17 — Bright Fireballs Expected Under Minimal Moonlight
The Leonid meteor shower, visible Nov. 3–Dec. 2, is expected to peak late on Nov. 16 into the early hours of Nov. 17 under minimal moonlight. Experts estimate about 10–15 meteors per hour at peak in dark, clear skies. The fast Leonids (≈44 miles/71 km per second) originate from comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle and can produce bright, colorful fireballs. Allow ~30 minutes for your eyes to adjust and watch from a dark location.
09:04 AM, 11/15/2025Science
Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend
Bright fireballs may streak across the night sky as the annual Leonid meteor shower reaches its peak at a near-ideal time with very little moonlight to interfere.
The Leonids first became visible on Nov. 3 and will continue producing occasional meteors through Dec. 2. Peak activity is expected late on Sunday, Nov. 16 and into the early morning hours of Monday, Nov. 17.
Experts estimate the shower could yield about 10–15 meteors per hour during the peak for observers in dark, clear skies, though actual rates may vary by location and local weather. The Leonids are among the fastest of the major showers, entering Earth’s atmosphere at roughly 44 miles per second (≈71 km/s), and they can produce spectacular, long-lasting fireballs with bright, colorful trails.
Why the Leonids Occur
The meteors originate from debris left by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. When comets approach the Sun they shed dust that spreads into trails along their orbits; each year the Earth passes through these dusty lanes and the particles burn up in our atmosphere, creating the streaks we call meteors. Tempel-Tuttle follows a highly elliptical orbit and returns to the inner solar system roughly every 33 years.
Viewing Tips
- Choose a dark site well away from city lights and streetlamps; even small light sources reduce the number of visible meteors.
- Allow your eyes about 30 minutes to fully dark-adapt.
- Bring a reclining chair or blanket and look at a wide area of sky rather than fixating on one point; the shower’s radiant is in Leo, but meteors can appear across the sky.
- Check local cloud cover and weather forecasts—clear skies are essential.
Moonlight This Weekend
The November moon will be in a waning crescent phase, producing only about 11% illumination on Sunday and roughly 6% on Monday, so skyglow should be minimal and conditions favorable for meteor viewing.
Note: Estimates of meteors per hour are averages for dark sites and can vary by location and visual conditions.
With clear skies and a dark horizon, skywatchers could be treated to vivid Leonid fireballs during the peak nights. Happy skywatching!