Leonid meteor shower 2025: peak viewing times and what to expect this November

The Leonid meteor shower reaches maximum activity on November 17, 2025. Optimal viewing occurs between 1 a.m. and dawn, according to astronomical forecasts for the DMV region. Meteor observers should allow 20 to 30 minutes for eyes to adjust to darkness for optimal viewing conditions. Under dark sky conditions, the Leonid meteor shower produces approximately 10 to 15 meteors per hour during peak activity. Light pollution in urban areas may reduce visible meteor counts.

Meteors travel at speeds exceeding 44 miles per second, creating bright streaks across the night sky. Shenandoah National Park's Big Meadows provides excellent dark sky conditions for meteor observation. The site minimizes light interference, maximizing meteor visibility during the Leonid shower peak.

Additional dark sky locations include Virginia State Parks facilities and Turner Farm Observatory in Great Falls, Virginia, which hosts public viewing sessions. Observers should dress warmly for extended outdoor viewing during November overnight temperatures.


Also read: Don’t miss November’s full moon — the closest and brightest of 2025! Here’s when and where to see it

Moon phase conditions for viewing the meteor

The November 20 new moon occurs three days after the Leonid meteor shower peak. This timing places the moon in a waning crescent phase during optimal viewing hours, reducing lunar interference with meteor observation.

The annual Leonid meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through debris left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle. Meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Leo, giving the shower its name.

November, 2025 features the full hunter's supermoon on November 5, the largest and brightest full moon of 2025. The month also offers favorable viewing conditions for Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.