Updated

Updated · Universe Today · Nov 13

Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Nov. 17 at 20 Meteors an Hour as 41% Moon Favors Viewing

Updated

Updated · Universe Today · Nov 13

Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Nov. 17 at 20 Meteors an Hour as 41% Moon Favors Viewing

Q: With the 2026 Leonids peaking in days, why might city dwellers miss the 70 km/s fireballs despite highly favorable moon conditions?

City dwellers may still miss many Leonids because the main obstacle is not the Moon this year, but artificial light and less-than-ideal viewing geometry. The 2026 Leonids have favorable moon conditions: the Moon is only about 41% illuminated and is expected to set around the time the radiant in Leo rises, leaving darker pre-dawn skies. But the widely quoted rates of roughly 15 to 20 meteors per hour assume ideal dark-sky conditions, clear weather, and the radiant high in the sky. Those are standardized estimates, not what most urban observers actually see. In cities and suburbs, skyglow washes out faint meteors, and most meteors in any shower are faint. That means even a shower capable of producing fast, bright 70 km/s streaks and occasional fireballs can look sparse from a backyard surrounded by streetlights and illuminated buildings. Meteor specialists routinely note that urban viewing can cut expected counts dramatically, sometimes down to only a handful per hour. Timing also matters. The best Leonid viewing comes before dawn, after midnight and especially once Leo climbs higher in the east. Anyone watching too early, from a blocked eastern horizon, or without allowing 20 to 30 minutes for dark adaptation will see fewer meteors. Clouds or haze can reduce counts further. So despite unusually helpful moon conditions, many city residents could miss the show simply because light pollution hides the fainter Leonids that make up most of the display.

3 articles · Updated · Universe Today · Nov 13

The 2026 Leonids are forecast to peak at 3:00 UTC on Nov. 17, with about 20 meteors an hour visible under favorable conditions.
A 41%-illuminated Moon should interfere less than usual because it sets as the Leonid radiant rises, helping pre-dawn viewing in Europe and later in North America.
The shower comes from debris shed by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, and Leonids strike Earth at nearly 70 kilometers per second, making them among the fastest meteors.
Leonid activity can surge when the comet nears perihelion on its 33-year orbit, though current models do not expect a major storm in the early 2030s despite possible stronger displays above 100 per hour.