Leonids 2025: Best California Viewing Spots and How to Watch the Nov. 16–17 Peak

Leonids 2025 — Best California Viewing Spots and How to Watch

California skywatchers should mark their calendars: the annual Leonid meteor shower will peak the night of Sunday, Nov. 16 into the morning of Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. The Leonids become active in early November and are produced when Earth passes through debris left by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. With a waning crescent moon about 9% illuminated at peak, moonlight should not significantly interfere with viewing in many locations.

When to watch

The Leonids show activity from about Nov. 6 through at least Nov. 30, according to the American Meteor Society, with the best viewing window typically between midnight and the pre-dawn hours on the night of peak activity. TimeAndDate.com can provide exact local peak times and radiant position for your location. Under dark skies you can expect roughly 3–15 meteors per hour during a normal peak; some meteors arrive at nearly 44 miles (≈71 km) per second.

Top California viewing locations

• Joshua Tree National Park: Stark desert landscapes and very dark skies make this a top choice. Multiple campgrounds and wide-open spaces allow comfortable, unobstructed viewing.
• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Vast horizons and very low light pollution — bring warm layers and a reclining chair for pre-dawn comfort.
• Death Valley National Park (Bortle Class 1 skies): One of North America’s darkest spots. Its remoteness yields exceptional meteor and stargazing conditions.
• Mount Laguna (Cleveland National Forest): Elevated viewpoints away from urban glow are ideal for Southern California observers.
• Yosemite — Glacier Point: A dramatic Central California vantage with sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada.
• Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks: High-elevation meadows and rock viewpoints (for example, Moro Rock) offer pristine skies.
• Lassen Volcanic National Park, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Plumas National Forest, McArthur-Burney Falls State Park: Remote, elevated, and forested areas that provide quieter, darker skies for local observers.

Before you go: check park hours, campground availability, road conditions, and any permit or entrance-fee requirements. Also verify weather forecasts and possible park restrictions in advance.

What to expect and how to view

The Leonids are known for frequent, fast meteors and occasionally bright fireballs. They can also produce "Earth-grazers" — long, colorful meteors that skim the upper atmosphere near the horizon. Rarely, the Leonids have produced meteor storms (roughly 1,000 meteors per hour), but those events occur only when fresh material is released during the comet's close approach to the sun.

Viewing tips

• Find dark skies: Move away from city and street lighting to maximize visibility.
• Get comfortable: Bring a reclining chair, sleeping bag, or blanket so you can lie back and take in as much sky as possible.
• Face east but scan widely: Lie on your back with your feet pointed east — meteors radiate from Leo but appear all across the sky; looking a bit away from the radiant often yields longer, brighter streaks.
• Give your eyes time: Allow up to 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark.
• Dress for the conditions: Nights can be chilly even in deserts — layer up and bring warm drinks and hand warmers if needed.
• Be patient and stay safe: The show often lasts until dawn. Follow park rules, practice Leave No Trace, and avoid using bright phones or flashlights while observing.

Why the Leonids happen

Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through streams of dusty debris left by comets or other small bodies. These pieces — meteoroids — strike Earth's atmosphere at high speed and burn up, producing meteors ("shooting stars"). Larger, brighter meteors are called fireballs; fragments that survive to reach the ground are meteorites. The Leonid particles come from comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, discovered in the mid-1800s.

Per the American Meteor Society and NASA, strong Leonid storms appear when the parent comet releases fresh material during perihelion (roughly every 33 years). The last major Leonid storm was in 2002; dense clouds that could produce similarly intense displays are not expected until much later in this century, though the comet's next perihelion and Earth crossing in 2031 could increase activity that year.

Stay informed

For the latest forecasts, hourly rates and activity updates, consult the American Meteor Society, NASA, and the Planetary Society. Local weather, moon phase, and light pollution conditions will determine how many meteors you actually see.

Enjoy the show — and remember to look up safely and respectfully.