Leonids Meteor Shower: Observation Timings and Tips
Visibility Timetable on November 18
Time | Elevation | |
Moon Rise, 3.1% illuminated | 05:53 | 67° |
Leonids radiant transit | 06:59 | 71° |
Moon Set | 16:02 | -16° |
Astrosession begin | 18:47 | -29° |
Astrosession end | 05:47 | 66° |
Civil sunrise | 06:52 | 71° |
Sunrise | 07:23 | 70° |
Track Leonids Position Throughout the Night
Time | |
Altitude | |
Azimuth |
Moon Dynamics for Leonids Meteor Shower in 2025
The visibility of a meteor shower depends on the Moon's position and brightness. This chart provides a detailed view of the moon dynamics for this specific meteor shower, helping you determine the best times to observe.
The blue and white areas represent night and day, while the reddish area highlights when the radiant is above the horizon. A white line marks the radiant's transit time, and the grey area shows when the Moon is above the horizon. While many focus on the meteor shower's peak date, it is often preferable to choose a time with dark skies rather than one where the Moon's brightness interferes with visibility. Click on the chart to view detailed Sun and Moon events for a specific date in the table above, ensuring you have all the information needed for a perfect stargazing experience.
Discover the Leonids Meteor Shower, including:
Radiant Position:
- Right Ascension: 10h 18m 25s"
- Declination: 21° 24' 00s
Peak Activity: This meteor shower is active from November 06 to November 30, with peak activity typically occurring around November 17, when the shower’s rate of meteors per hour is at its highest. However, alternative observation dates may vary based on past activity. Refer to the observation history table for more details.
Associated Parent Comet: The Leonids originates from debris left by 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. The comet's debris intersects Earth's orbit, creating the meteor shower.
Leonids Observation History
This section provides a record of previous meteor shower activity, including the start, end, and peak dates. While meteor showers are often associated with traditional dates, it's important to note that these dates may vary slightly each year due to solar and atmospheric conditions.
This table serves as a helpful reference, and observers should be aware that the exact dates may shift. Be sure to check updated forecasts closer to the event to determine the best time to observe the shower, as these dates can differ from year to year.
Year | Start Date | Peak Date | End Date |
---|---|---|---|
1973-mm-dd | November 14 | November 17 | November 20 |
1970-mm-dd | - | November 17 | - |
1993-mm-dd | - | November 18 | - |
2003-mm-dd | - | November 18 | - |
2008-mm-dd | November 10 | November 18 | November 19 |
2009-mm-dd | November 03 | November 17 | November 29 |
2010-mm-dd | November 12 | November 19 | November 19 |
2015-08-23 | November 02 | November 17 | November 30 |
2023-05-01 | October 31 | November 19 | December 11 |
Use this historical data as a guideline for when meteor showers typically occur, but remember that the exact timing may vary slightly each year.
Data Credits
We would like to express our gratitude to the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Meteor Center for providing valuable meteor data.
Special thanks to all the astronomers, researchers, and enthusiasts whose work contributes to the understanding and observation of meteor showers.