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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Columbus, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
39.9625
Longitude:
-83.0061

Leonids Meteor Shower: Observation Timings and Tips

Leonids Visibility Timetable on November 18

Leonids Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 3.1% illuminated06:5367°
Leonids transit07:5971°
Leonids set15:14
Moon Set17:02-16°
Astrosession begin19:47-29°
Leonids rise00:39
Astrosession end06:4766°
Civil sunrise07:5271°
Sunrise08:2370°

Track Leonids Position Throughout the Night

← Tue, 18 November 2025 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe Leonids changing position in the night sky.

Moon Dynamics for Leonids Meteor Shower in 2025

Time

 

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-ddNovember 14November 17November 20
1970-mm-dd-November 17-
1993-mm-dd-November 18-
2003-mm-dd-November 18-
2008-mm-ddNovember 10November 18November 19
2009-mm-ddNovember 03November 17November 29
2010-mm-ddNovember 12November 19November 19
2015-08-23November 02November 17November 30
2023-05-01October 31November 19December 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.