The Leonid meteor shower may produce a few visible meteors late Sunday into Monday morning, but incoming clouds are likely to limit viewing. Earth is passing through debris from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle; Leonid meteors travel about 44 miles per second (158,400 mph) and the shower typically peaks around Nov. 17. A recent G4 geomagnetic storm (K ≈ 8.67) created widespread auroras after overlapping CMEs. Severe solar storms can disrupt communications and power systems, so scientists are improving early-warning models; photographers should use Night Mode, a tripod and ISO 800–1,600.
Clouds May Limit Leonid Meteor Viewing; Recent G4 Storm Produced Wide Auroras
The Leonid meteor shower may produce a few visible meteors late Sunday into Monday morning, but incoming clouds are likely to limit viewing. Earth is passing through debris from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle; Leonid meteors travel about 44 miles per second (158,400 mph) and the shower typically peaks around Nov. 17. A recent G4 geomagnetic storm (K ≈ 8.67) created widespread auroras after overlapping CMEs. Severe solar storms can disrupt communications and power systems, so scientists are improving early-warning models; photographers should use Night Mode, a tripod and ISO 800–1,600.
09:14 PM, 11/17/2025Science
Leonid viewing could be limited by clouds
The next couple of nights offer a chance to spot Leonid meteors, but incoming cloud cover will likely reduce visibility. If you stay up late Sunday into the predawn hours, you may see a few bright streaks after midnight, with the best odds closer to dawn. Dark, rural skies facing east toward the constellation Leo the Lion provide the clearest view.
Earth is passing through debris left by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. Tiny, sand-grain–sized particles burn up in the upper atmosphere as the comet’s debris crosses Earth’s path, producing bright meteors. These particles travel at roughly 44 miles per second (about 158,400 mph), faster than any of the other roughly dozen annual meteor showers.
Tempel-Tuttle swings through the inner solar system about every 33⅓ years, most recently in 1998, and each November it leaves dust and icy fragments (meteoroids) that typically peak around Nov. 17. Spectacular meteor storms were recorded in 1966 and 2001, but this year’s display is expected to be modest.
A waning crescent moon will cause minimal light interference before dawn Monday, but clouds are likely to limit viewing. In relatively clear patches you might spot perhaps a half-dozen meteors per hour; under ideal, dark-sky conditions the Leonid peak can produce 10–15 meteors per hour.
The shower’s radiant—the point in the sky from which meteors appear to originate—is in the constellation Leo. To find it, use the Big Dipper’s pointer stars and follow a path opposite the North Star to the Sickle asterism; Regulus is the bright star at the base of the Sickle.
For best viewing: move away from city lights, lie back or use a reclining chair, give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt, dress warmly (temperatures may fall into the 30s °F), and keep your gaze relaxed on one portion of the sky rather than scanning quickly.
Recent aurora and space-weather context
Separately, a powerful aurora was visible on the night of Nov. 11 after a G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm began at about 8:20 p.m. EST and lasted roughly six hours. The G-scale runs from 1 (minor) to 5 (extreme); higher values make auroras visible much farther south than usual. The Planetary K-index, a measure of geomagnetic activity, reached about 8.67 around 11 p.m., explaining the exceptional display that resembled the strong event on May 10, 2024. Reports placed auroras as far south as California, Arizona, Arkansas, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Two overlapping coronal mass ejections (CMEs) arrived early last week. CMEs—huge expulsions of charged particles and magnetic energy from near large sunspots—can reach Earth roughly 24–36 hours after eruption, enhance currents in Earth’s magnetic shield, and when solar particles collide with atmospheric atoms produce vivid auroras.
Different collisions produce different colors: lower-energy electrons striking oxygen above about 150 miles can produce red auroras, green glows typically appear between 60 and 150 miles, and high-energy particles exciting nitrogen at 60–120 miles can yield pink or, rarely, blue hues.
Impacts and preparedness
Severe geomagnetic storms can briefly disrupt high-frequency radio, GPS and some satellite navigation systems. In extreme cases, induced voltages can stress power grids and transformers, potentially causing outages. Scientists are refining models to improve early warnings and harden critical infrastructure.
Although the peak of the current solar cycle occurred recently, strong solar outbursts remain possible in the months ahead, so occasional aurora opportunities and space-weather impacts may continue.
Photography tips
To photograph meteors or auroras with a smartphone: use Night Mode or a long-exposure app, turn the flash off, stabilize the phone on a tripod, and set a higher ISO such as 800–1,600. For better results use a wide-angle lens, focus to infinity if possible, and experiment with exposure durations or Night Mode settings to capture faint colors.
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