The Leonid meteor shower should be visible over Connecticut this week, and NASA says the peak that began Sunday night may continue into early Tuesday, offering a second viewing opportunity. With only about 4–5% moon illumination Monday night and a new moon on Thursday, conditions are favorable for spotting faint meteors. The Leonids—debris from comet 55P/Tempel–Tuttle—can occasionally produce storms of more than 1,000 meteors per hour and are known for fireballs and long-lived “Earth-grazers.” Forecasts call for mostly low cloud cover after midnight across much of Connecticut, though the northwest hills may remain cloudier.
Missed the Leonids Sunday? Peak May Last Into Early Tuesday — How to Spot Them in Connecticut
The Leonid meteor shower should be visible over Connecticut this week, and NASA says the peak that began Sunday night may continue into early Tuesday, offering a second viewing opportunity. With only about 4–5% moon illumination Monday night and a new moon on Thursday, conditions are favorable for spotting faint meteors. The Leonids—debris from comet 55P/Tempel–Tuttle—can occasionally produce storms of more than 1,000 meteors per hour and are known for fireballs and long-lived “Earth-grazers.” Forecasts call for mostly low cloud cover after midnight across much of Connecticut, though the northwest hills may remain cloudier.
11:53 PM, 11/17/2025Science
Leonid meteor peak may linger into Tuesday — where and when to watch
The Leonid meteor shower will be visible over Connecticut this week, and NASA says the display that peaked Sunday night could still be visible into the early hours of Tuesday. That gives stargazers a second chance to catch the show if they missed the first night.
Viewing conditions are favorable: only about 4–5% of the Moon will be illuminated Monday night into early Tuesday, and the next new moon (completely dark) falls on Thursday. Dark skies help reveal faint meteors that moonlight would otherwise wash out.
The Leonids radiate from the constellation Leo. They are caused by Earth passing through debris left by comet 55P/Tempel–Tuttle. The shower runs this year from Nov. 3 to Dec. 2, with the best viewing window between midnight and dawn.
Notable Leonid behaviors include occasional meteor storms—roughly every 33 years the shower can produce more than 1,000 meteors per hour when dense debris streams intersect Earth's path (European Space Agency). The Leonids also produce bright fireballs from larger fragments and dramatic Earth-grazers that skim the horizon with long, colorful tails (NASA).
How to watch
- Find a dark location away from city lights.
- Lie back and face east (point your feet that way) so you can scan a wide portion of sky.
- Allow about 20–30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark.
- Best time: midnight until dawn.
Local forecast for Monday night
Weather looks mostly cooperative for Connecticut after midnight. Forecasts predict roughly 30% or less cloud cover across much of the state, with the clearest skies along the coast. The exception will be the northwest hills, where cloudier conditions are expected.
Whether you saw the show Sunday or are heading out for a second chance Monday night, the combination of low moonlight and mostly clear skies makes this a good opportunity to catch Leonid meteors.