About Leonid Meteor Shower Peak
The Leonids peak around November 17–18 with a modest 10–15 meteors per hour in normal years — but no shower has a legend like this one. Roughly every 33 years, when parent comet Tempel–Tuttle swings by, the Leonids can erupt into true meteor storms: 1833 produced an estimated 100,000 meteors per hour, a night that terrified and dazzled North America; 1966 and 2001 brought storms in living memory.
The next storm window is forecast around 2033–2034, when Earth may again cross dense debris trails. Until then, the Leonids remain a fast (71 km/s — the fastest of all showers), fireball-rich November tradition radiating from the Sickle of Leo after midnight. The countdown above tracks the next peak.
Upcoming dates
| 2026 | Tuesday, November 17, 2026next |
| 2027 | Wednesday, November 17, 2027 |
| 2028 | Friday, November 17, 2028 |
| 2029 | Saturday, November 17, 2029 |
| 2030 | Sunday, November 17, 2030 |
FAQ
When do the Leonids peak?
Around November 17–18 every year — best after midnight, when Leo rises.
What was the 1833 Leonid storm?
The greatest meteor display in recorded history — up to 100,000 meteors per hour over North America, "stars falling like snow."
When is the next Leonid storm?
Astronomers forecast possible storm-level activity around 2033–2034, tied to comet Tempel–Tuttle's 33-year orbit.