The Leonids are associated with comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. Their history includes spectacular storms, but those exceptional displays are not a reasonable expectation for every November.
Read the forecast for the year
Use a current meteor-organisation prediction for any possible enhancement. A historical storm anniversary or the comet's name alone does not establish that Earth will meet a dense trail on your observing night.
Check when Leo and the radiant become well placed during local darkness. The hours before dawn are often more relevant than an early-evening watch, but latitude and twilight still set the actual interval. Compare that window with the Moon and cloud forecast.
Watch with your unaided eyes over a wide area and settle in comfortably. Record start, end, breaks and cloud if you count. Treat an unexpected bright meteor as an observation rather than evidence that a storm has begun. If you want to contribute a report, follow the current instructions of an observing organisation so your time and sky coverage can be interpreted properly.
Year-specific planning dates
Sources and review
Reviewed October 22, 2026 by PiSpace Sky editorial. Date-sensitive details can change.