Leonid Meteor Shower to Peak on November 17 with Optimal Viewing Conditions

The annual Leonid meteor shower is set to peak in the early hours of Monday, November 17, 2025, providing skywatchers with an opportunity to observe up to 15 meteors per hour under optimal conditions.

The Leonids, active from November 6 to 30, originate from debris left by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. These meteors are known for their high velocity, entering Earth's atmosphere at approximately 44 miles per second, often producing bright fireballs and persistent trails.

This year's viewing conditions are particularly favorable, as the waning crescent moon, only 9% illuminated, will rise late in the predawn hours, ensuring dark skies during the prime viewing period between midnight and dawn.

For optimal viewing, it is recommended to find a dark location away from city lights, lie back for a wide view of the sky, and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for about 20 minutes. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Leo, which rises around midnight and reaches its highest point in the sky at dawn.

While the Leonids are famous for occasionally producing meteor storms, with rates of thousands of meteors per hour, no such storm is expected this year. The next major meteor shower following the Leonids will be the Geminids, peaking on December 13–14, 2025, with up to 140 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.