The Leonid meteor shower can be seen from almost anywhere on Earth, but it’s best viewed from dark locations in the Northern Hemisphere during the late- night to pre-dawn hours in mid‑November.

Where it can be seen

  • The Leonids are visible from both hemispheres , but conditions are usually best in the Northern Hemisphere , where the radiant in the constellation Leo climbs higher in the sky.
  • You can watch them from cities, but a dark, rural site away from light pollution dramatically improves how many meteors you see.

Best time to watch

  • The shower is active each year roughly from November 6–30 , with a peak around November 17–18 , when rates are highest.
  • The best viewing window is typically after midnight until dawn , once the radiant in Leo is well above the horizon and the sky is fully dark.

Where to look in the sky

  • The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Leo , but you do not need to stare directly at Leo; it’s better to look at a wide patch of sky and let meteors streak through your peripheral vision.
  • Facing generally east to southeast after midnight works well in many locations, since that’s where Leo is rising and climbing higher through the night.

Quick viewing tips

  • Find a dark, open spot with a wide view of the sky; lie back so you can comfortably see as much sky as possible.
  • Allow 20–30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark and avoid bright phone screens so you can catch more of the fast, sometimes very bright Leonid meteors.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.