Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight with Optimal Viewing Conditions

The annual Leonid meteor shower is set to peak tonight, providing skywatchers with an opportunity to observe up to 15 meteors per hour under favorable conditions.

The Leonids, originating from debris left by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, are known for their swift meteors traveling at approximately 44 miles per second. This year, the shower benefits from a waning crescent moon, which will rise late in the night, ensuring darker skies during the prime viewing hours between midnight and dawn.

For optimal viewing, it's 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 for about 20 minutes. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Leo, which becomes visible after midnight in both hemispheres.

While the Leonids are famed for occasionally producing meteor storms with thousands of meteors per hour, no such storm is anticipated this year. The next major meteor shower, the Geminids, is expected to peak on December 13–14, offering up to 140 meteors per hour under optimal conditions.