leonids | EarthSky

Leonids peak morning likely November 18

Will you see thousands of meteors during the 201 Leonid meteor shower? Doubtful. But you might see a good sprinkling of meteors before dawn November 17 and 18.

Many short glowing streaks in a mostly dark sky. One has a bright explosion at its end.

Meteor showers are here! 10 easy tips for watching

Meteor showers are unpredictable but nothing beats them for a fun and relaxing time under the stars. Here are our 10 tips to optimize your meteor viewing time.

Meteor shower guide 2026: Up next … the Eta Aquariids

Up next is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower. Watch for them before dawn on May 5. Your 2026 meteor shower guide here.

An irregular rocky body hurtling through space, surrounded by a cloud of haze.

Comet Halley is the parent of 2 meteor showers

The famous comet Halley spawns both the October Orionid meteor shower and the May Eta Aquariid meteor shower. It'll return to the inner solar system in 2061.

Long bright streak in starry blue sky above a lake with distant mountains.

How high up are meteors when they begin to glow?

How high up are meteors when they begin to glow? Meteors begin to glow almost as soon as they hit Earth's atmosphere, but vaporize at varying altitudes.

Ten thin, white streaks of different lengths radiating out from a small, white circle in a dark sky.

Radiant point of meteor showers: All you need to know

Meteors enter Earth's atmosphere on parallel paths. So, you'll see meteors appear to come from a single point in the sky: the radiant point!

Dark hills, with Milky Way and a thin white streak bigger at lower end.

Observing meteors: Top 10 tips for the Perseids

The 2021 Perseid meteor shower is rising to its peak and many are observing meteors. Here are our best 10 tips for watching this shower, or any other!

Bright light in middle of long, thin bright line in dark blue sky with small clouds and stars.

Can meteors make a sound? Scientists say yes

Is it possible to hear a meteor? Some people report hearing meteors make a sizzling sound. Scientists explain how you can hear a meteor.

Unexpected Perseid outburst floods cameras, wows viewers

Unexpected Perseid outburst on August 14, 2021. Automatic all-sky cameras caught it, and observers in Wyoming, USA and Ontario, Canada made visual observations.

Photos of 2020’s Leonid meteor shower

EarthSky Community members around the world are sharing their photos of this year's Leonid meteor shower. Beautiful! Thanks to all who contributed.

Young moon and the planets Jupiter and Saturn at dsuk/nightfall in November 2020.

Young moon at dusk; meteors after midnight

On November 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2020, enjoy the beautiful presence of a waxing crescent moon covered over in earthshine in the west after sunset. Then, after midnight, watch for meteors in the annual Leonid meteor shower.

Leonid meteor shower is building to a peak

The peak of the Leonids is likely to be before sunup on November 17, 2020. But people already catching some Leonids. Keep an eye out this weekend.

Tips for watching N. Taurid meteors

The nominal peak of the North Taurid meteor shower is on the night of November 11-12, 2020.

Moon sweeps in front of the constellation Leo.

Moon and Leo from midnight until dawn

Get up before dawn to see the moon near Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, on November 19 and 20, 2019.

10 amazing places for year-round stargazing

The stars are accessible to everyone, but where can you get the most from the night sky? Here are 10 great dark-sky places - mostly in the U.S. but also in Australia, New Zealand and Chile - for skywatching and stargazing.

See it! The weekend’s meteor showers

Both Leonid and Taurid meteors were raining down this past weekend. Many said the Leonids were sparse this year, but the EarthSky community caught some! Photos here.

Sky filled with very, very many stars with long streaks for each; 1830s people outside looking up.

The night the stars fell

Check out this old engraving of the November 1833 Leonid meteor shower. It's one reason this shower - due to peak this weekend - is so famous.

Moonless nights ahead for the Perseids

It'll be a great year for the annual Perseid meteor shower. Don't miss this preview by Guy Ottewell, which has the best charts you'll find anywhere online.

Bright meteors of 2017, over Tucson

This compilation of images from Eliot Herman represents the best of more than 100,000 photos of meteors over Tucson, captured on 2017 nights.

Brilliant green streak seen through thin clouds with white explosion at lower end.

Taurid fireballs photos and videos 2015

The Leonids were sparse this year, but 2015 has been an incredible year for the long-lasting shower Taurids. Photos and video here.

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Leonids peak morning likely November 18

Meteor showers are here! 10 easy tips for watching

Meteor shower guide 2026: Up next … the Eta Aquariids

Comet Halley is the parent of 2 meteor showers

How high up are meteors when they begin to glow?

Radiant point of meteor showers: All you need to know

Observing meteors: Top 10 tips for the Perseids

Can meteors make a sound? Scientists say yes

Unexpected Perseid outburst floods cameras, wows viewers

Photos of 2020’s Leonid meteor shower

Young moon at dusk; meteors after midnight

Leonid meteor shower is building to a peak

Tips for watching N. Taurid meteors

Moon and Leo from midnight until dawn

10 amazing places for year-round stargazing

See it! The weekend’s meteor showers

The night the stars fell

Moonless nights ahead for the Perseids

Bright meteors of 2017, over Tucson

Taurid fireballs photos and videos 2015