Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak November 16–17

The Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak on the night of November 16–17, according to the International Meteor Organization’s 2026 calendar.

The organization lists the shower as active from November 6 through November 30, giving skywatchers a window beyond the expected peak night. The Leonids are associated with comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, the calendar says.

Universe Today’s David Dickinson projects a peak rate of about 20 meteors per hour for 2026 and does not expect a meteor storm this year. He explains that standardized hourly rates assume ideal conditions, including a dark sky and the shower’s radiant directly overhead. An individual observer will usually see fewer meteors, since fainter ones can be missed.

For people hoping to watch, Dickinson recommends finding a location with clear, dark skies and looking in the early morning, when he says more meteors can be seen. The shower can be watched with the naked eye; no special equipment is needed, he writes. Weather and sky conditions at a chosen site will shape the view.