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The Leonid Meteor Shower Explained: When and How to Watch in 2026

The Leonids peak overnight November 16–17, 2026. Expect a modest shower, and watch from a dark spot while scanning the wide sky—not just Leo.
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The Leonid meteor shower is expected to be active from November 6 through November 30, 2026, with its peak overnight November 16–17. NASA’s 2026 fast facts say to expect fewer than three meteors per hour under dark skies, so plan for a modest natural display—not a storm. Watch from a dark spot around midnight or later, and scan a broad stretch of sky rather than looking only at Leo.

What is the Leonid meteor shower?

The Leonids are an annual meteor shower: Earth passes through dust and debris shed by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, and particles entering the atmosphere create the brief streaks of light called meteors. The shower appears to radiate from the constellation Leo, which gives it its name. That radiant is a point of perspective, not a spot where every meteor will appear.

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Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle takes about 33 years to orbit the Sun. As it travels, it leaves debris along its orbit; Earth crosses that stream each November. Astronomers Ernst Tempel and Horace Tuttle discovered the comet independently in 1865 and 1866. NASA says it last reached perihelion—the point in its orbit closest to the Sun—in 1998 and is expected to return in 2031. NASA: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

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When is the Leonid meteor shower in 2026?

NASA lists the Leonids’ 2026 active period as November 6–30, with the peak night of November 16–17. These are annual shower dates, not a guarantee of clear skies or a particular number of visible meteors from your location. NASA: Leonids

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How many Leonids can you expect to see?

Keep expectations modest. NASA’s 2026 Leonids fast facts estimate fewer than three meteors per hour under dark skies; its overview describes ordinary rates as often about three per hour. Either way, this is not normally a high-count spectacle, and a quoted rate is not a promise that every observer will see that many. Light pollution and local viewing conditions affect what you can spot.

The Leonids are among the fastest meteors. NASA lists their speed as 43.5 miles (69.7 kilometers) per second in its fast facts; its overview rounds that to 44 miles (71 kilometers) per second. Some appear bright or colorful. Larger particles can produce fireballs—brighter, longer-lasting flashes—and Earth-grazers, which skim close to the horizon and may leave long, colorful tails. These are possible sights, not guaranteed features of any one viewing session. NASA: Leonids

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Where should you look to see the Leonids?

Choose a dark location away from city and street lights, then take in as much sky as you can. Don’t fix your gaze on Leo: meteors can appear anywhere across the sky, and those farther from the radiant tend to look longer because of perspective. NASA specifically recommends viewing away from the radiant for this reason.

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Start around midnight local time and keep watching if conditions allow; NASA says the shower can continue until dawn. Give your eyes time to adapt to the darkness. Dress for cold weather, and consider reclining on a blanket, sleeping bag or lawn chair so you can watch a wide area without craning your neck. These are comfort aids, not special equipment.

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Do you need a telescope to watch a meteor shower?

No special viewing equipment is needed for the approach NASA recommends: watch unaided across a wide field of sky. A telescope is not required; its narrow view is poorly suited to catching meteors that may streak across different parts of the sky.

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Why do Leonid storms happen only sometimes?

A meteor storm is far more intense than an ordinary shower. NASA defines a storm as at least 1,000 meteors per hour and says Leonid storms may occur roughly every 33 years. That is an approximate association, not a schedule or a forecast that a storm will happen in a particular year.

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The historical extremes show why storm headlines can be misleading for an ordinary annual viewing plan. NASA records that in 1966, thousands of meteors per minute appeared during a 15-minute period; it identifies 2002 as the most recent Leonid storm. Denser debris streams can produce enhanced showers or storms, but most years do not resemble those exceptional events. NASA: Leonids · NASA: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle · NASA Meteoroid Environment Office

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