Leonids

Topicupdated 2025-11-18 00:23
Leonids

The Leonid meteor shower is an annual celestial event associated with comet Tempel–Tuttle. Its name is derived from the constellation Leo, as the meteors appear to radiate from this point in the sky. The shower is known for producing bright, fast-moving meteors that streak across the night sky.

This meteor shower is particularly notable for its historical meteor storms, which occur approximately every 33 years when the Earth passes through dense debris trails left by the comet. During these rare storms, the Leonids can produce thousands of meteors per hour, creating spectacular displays that have been recorded for centuries. Even in non-storm years, the shower remains a reliable and popular astronomical event for skywatchers.

Recently, the Leonid meteor shower has been in the news as it reached its peak visibility in mid-November 2025. Numerous media outlets have reported on the optimal viewing times and conditions for observers across different regions. While the peak viewing period has passed, several news sources note that interested viewers may still have opportunities to see residual meteor activity in the following nights.

For those hoping to observe the Leonids, the best viewing typically occurs away from city lights during the pre-dawn hours. No special equipment is needed—the meteors are visible to the naked eye, making this astronomical phenomenon accessible to casual observers and astronomy enthusiasts alike.

Brief generated by an LLM (DeepSeek) from Wikipedia and recent news headlines.

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