Leonid Meteor Shower 2026 Peak

What this countdown tracks

The clock counts down to the peak of the Leonid meteor shower on the night of November 16 into November 17, 2026 — debris from Comet 55P/Tempel–Tuttle and the source of some of the most spectacular meteor storms in recorded history, though 2026 is a moderate year with a zenithal hourly rate of about 15 under dark skies.

About this celestial event

The Leonids are debris shed by Comet 55P/Tempel–Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33 years. Their fame comes from periodic meteor storms: when Earth passes through a recently shed dust filament, observed rates can spike from a few dozen per hour to thousands per hour. The 1833 Leonid storm produced an estimated 100,000 meteors per hour over the eastern United States and is widely considered the moment that scientific meteor astronomy began. Storms also occurred in 1866, 1966 (with rates up to 144,000 per hour over the American Southwest), 1999, 2001 and 2002 — the last major storms before Tempel–Tuttle drifted into a less favourable orbital alignment.

2026 is a non-storm year. The next predicted Leonid outburst is around 2031–33 on the comet's next perihelion approach. Even so, the Leonids deliver a reliable show: their meteors are extremely fast (71 km/s, the fastest of any annual shower) and bright, with many fireballs and a high proportion of meteors leaving persistent trains.

The radiant sits in the "Sickle" of Leo, just below the head of the lion, which rises in the east around midnight at mid-northern latitudes.

Best viewing

For 2026 the peak is the night of November 16 into November 17. The Moon is a waning crescent that rises only in the small hours, so the prime evening-to-early-morning window is dark.

Best observing time is from about 01:00 local time onward, when Leo is well above the eastern horizon. Lie back, allow 20 minutes for dark adaptation, and look toward the zenith. Expect 10–15 meteors per hour from a dark Bortle-4 site, fewer from suburban skies.

Past peaks

• 2024 Leonids — moderate peak with bright Moon interference
• 2022 Leonids — predicted minor outburst from 1733 dust trail; observed rates ~50
• 2002 Leonids — last major storm, with rates of 3,000+ per hour over Europe
• 2001 Leonids — peak rates of 3,500 per hour over North America
• 1999 Leonids — first storm of the recent cycle, ~3,700 per hour over Europe
• 1966 Leonids — historic storm at 144,000 per hour over the American Southwest
• 1833 Leonids — most famous storm in history; founded modern meteor astronomy

How to observe

NASA's Meteor Watch, the American Meteor Society, the IMO, EarthSky and Sky & Telescope publish Leonid peak predictions every November. The Virtual Telescope Project usually streams the peak live. No equipment is needed; the Leonids are a naked-eye event.

Related countdowns

The Leonids sit between the Orionid meteor shower 2026 and the Geminid meteor shower 2026 on the autumn meteor calendar. Pair with the Supermoon November 2026 and the December solstice 2026 for a late-autumn sky agenda.

FAQ

When do the Leonids peak in 2026? The night of November 16 into November 17, 2026. Will there be a Leonid storm in 2026? No. 2026 is a non-storm year with rates around 15 per hour. The next predicted outburst is 2031–2033. What's the parent comet? 55P/Tempel–Tuttle, with a 33-year orbit. Where should I look? Toward the zenith with the radiant in Leo rising in the east after midnight.