Leonid meteor shower 2026
The fastest meteors of the year. Famous for the meteor storms of 1833, 1966 and 1999 to 2002; normal years are modest.
Peak: Tuesday, November 17 at 6:31 PM EST (November 17 at 3:31 PM PST on the West Coast). The Moon will be 55% lit: a half-lit Moon that washes out fainter meteors part of the night.
Best time from US cities
Meteor rates rise with the radiant: the higher it is, the more meteors you see. These are the radiant's heights above the horizon through the peak night.
| City | 7 PM local | 9 PM local | 11 PM local | 1 AM local | 3 AM local | 5 AM local |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | below | below | 11° | 33° | 55° | 71° |
| Chicago | below | below | 11° | 33° | 55° | 70° |
| Los Angeles | below | below | 9° | 33° | 57° | 77° |
Local hours from 8 pm. Radiant: right ascension 152°, declination +22°, in Leo.
Where it comes from
The Leonids happen when Earth crosses the trail of dust left by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. The grains, most smaller than a grain of sand, burn up about 50 to 70 miles up at 71 km per second.
How to watch
- Get away from city lights and give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adapt. No telescope or binoculars needed.
- Lie back and take in as much sky as you can. Patience pays: meteors often come in small bursts.
- The hours before dawn are usually best, when your side of Earth faces forward into the stream.
Questions people ask
When is the Leonid meteor shower in 2026?
Active Nov 6 to Nov 30, with the peak on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:31 PM EST. The nights on either side are usually worth watching too.
How many meteors will I see?
Up to about 15 an hour is the rate for a perfect, dark sky with the radiant overhead. From a typical rural site expect a third to a half of that, and far fewer from a city.
Where should I look?
Anywhere in the sky. The meteors seem to come from Leo, but they streak across the whole sky. Looking about 45° away from the radiant often shows longer trails.
Sources: shower data (solar longitude of the peak, ZHR, radiant, speed, active period) from the International Meteor Organization working list, as facts; peak time and Moon computed with Astronomy Engine. Times can differ by a few hours from other calendars.
Page checked: October 25, 2026.