The sky’s about to put on its own light show, so be sure to look up!
Every year in November, the Leonid meteor shower shimmers across the heavens like glitter spilling from the cosmos.
These meteors are tiny pieces of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, and when they collide with Earth’s atmosphere at mind-blowing speed, they burn bright enough to make you wish upon a star.
According to NASA, the Leonids are bright and colorful and are considered a major.
This year, the Leonids will peak overnight on Nov. 16 and into the early hours of Nov. 17, but the meteor shower lasts about a month until Dec. 3, 2025. (This time period is when we’re passing through the meteor stream in space!)
So, whether you’re planning to stay up past midnight or wake before dawn, this is one of those celestial events that reminds you just how magical our planet is.
After all, under ideal weather conditions, you could catch up to a dozen meteors per hour, as the Leonids surprise skywatchers with an unforgettable outburst every so often.
In the meantime, read on for how and when to catch a glimpse of this sparkly spectacle.
What is the Leonid meteor shower?
getty Leonids Meteor Shower
The Leonids are one of the fastest and most renowned meteor showers of the year, known for their bright, dramatic, shimmery streaks that seem to fall from the constellation of Leo the Lion.
Each shooting star is a tiny fragment from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, a celestial traveler that swooshes around the Sun every 33 years.
As Earth passes through the comet’s dusty trail, those particles collide with our atmosphere at lightning speed, burning up in bursts of shimmery light.
When does the Leonid meteor shower peak?
The Leonids have been active since Nov. 3, with peak activity on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17.
The best time to watch is after midnight through pre-dawn hours, when the radiant (the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate) of the Leo constellation rises higher in the sky.
This year’s timing is especially lucky, as the moon will be a thin crescent (a new moon arrives on Nov. 20), which means there will be little to no light interference. Expect the darkest skies and brightest streaks before sunrise.
How to watch the Leonid meteor shower?
Ye Aung Thu/AFP via Getty
Meteor shower watching
Good news: you don’t need a telescope or fancy equipment to catch a glimpse of the sparkly light show.
Find a dark, open area away from city lights and allow 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust. If you’re in a light-polluted city, head for the coast or a nearby park with minimal glare.
While the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Leo, you’ll see them shooting in all directions, so be sure to look up!
What is the next meteor shower after the Leonid?
The next major shower after the Leonids is the Geminid meteor shower, which peaks on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14.
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