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Leonids Peak Before Dawn With Best Views Early Nov. 18

The display comes from debris shed by Comet 55P/Tempel‑Tuttle.

Overview

  • Forecasters highlighted early Nov. 18 as the prime viewing window, with Leo high in the east before dawn.
  • The American Meteor Society and The Weather Channel projected roughly 10 to 15 meteors per hour at peak.
  • A thin crescent Moon left skies dark, and the radiant in Leo climbed past 50 degrees by about 4 a.m. local time.
  • Leonids strike at about 44 miles per second and often leave bright, persistent trains best seen 40–60 degrees from the radiant with naked-eye viewing.
  • A storm-level outburst was not expected this year, and the next comparable debris encounter is forecast for 2099.