Leonid Meteor Shower 2024: How to Watch This Weekend’s Peak Show

The Leonid meteor shower, one of the most iconic celestial events in history, is almost here and promises a dazzling show for those eager to watch. Known for its rare, historic meteor "storms"—including a famous display in 1833, when thousands of meteors filled the sky in a single hour—the Leonids have fascinated stargazers for centuries. 

This year’s peak night is set for Saturday, November 16, through early Sunday morning, with around 15 to 20 meteors expected per hour. While it won’t reach the legendary rates of past storms, the Leonids still offer an awe-inspiring sight: fragments of comet Tempel-Tuttle blazing through Earth’s atmosphere at speeds up to 158,000 miles per hour. 

However, a nearly full moon will be casting extra light, so viewers will need to choose their spots carefully to maximize visibility. Here’s everything you need to know to catch this celestial show, navigate around the moonlight, and enjoy one of nature’s most celebrated night sky events.

The Legacy of the Leonid Meteor Shower

The Leonids stand out among meteor showers, thanks to their rare meteor storms and their origins in the comet Tempel-Tuttle, which leaves behind a trail of cosmic debris as it orbits the Sun every 33 years. Each November, Earth crosses this debris trail, with particles from the comet hitting our atmosphere and creating bright streaks of light known as meteors.