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Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks November 17: Don’t Miss It!

11/13/2025

30 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Leonid meteor shower will peak on November 17, producing up to 15 meteors per hour.
This year’s viewing is favorable because the Moon is about 9% illuminated.
The Leonids originate from debris from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle and are known for speed and fireballs.
The best viewing time is midnight to dawn in a dark location.
The Geminids will peak in mid-December.

History

Historical Context

The Leonid meteor shower peaked on November 12-13, 1833, producing an estimated 100,000 meteors per hour across North America. This event, linked to debris from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, transformed public interest in astronomy and meteorology. Denison Olmsted's observations helped establish that meteors originated from space, marking a significant shift in scientific understanding of celestial phenomena.

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Story summary

The Leonid meteor shower will peak on November 17, producing up to 15 meteors per hour.
This year’s viewing is favorable because the Moon is about 9% illuminated.
The Leonids originate from debris from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle and are known for speed and fireballs.
The best viewing time is midnight to dawn in a dark location.
The Geminids will peak in mid-December.

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