--- title: November Meteor Showers 2026: When to See the Taurids and Leonids | WeatherBug | WeatherBug description: One shower has peaked, another is just getting started and bright fireballs are still possible. canonical: https://www.weatherbug.com/news/November-Meteor-Showers-2026-When-to-See-the-Taurids-and-Leonids og:title: November Meteor Showers 2026: When to See the Taurids and Leonids | WeatherBug | WeatherBug og:description: One shower has peaked, another is just getting started and bright fireballs are still possible. og:url: https://www.weatherbug.com/news/November-Meteor-Showers-2026-When-to-See-the-Taurids-and-Leonids og:site_name: WeatherBug og:locale: en_US og:image: https://cms-assets-con.cdn.weatherbug.net/assets/contentitems/0b/0b6f0131-ea54-44b6-949e-55df4c8ebd9a/52e0ce98-d40a-4283-82d1-d0fe816ebf4b/a4e96b2c-b6d1-498a-94da-4fb86bf4daf6.png og:image:width: 800 og:image:height: 600 og:image:alt: Another chance to see a meteor shower this month? og:type: article article:published_time: 2026-11-15T11:00:19Z article:modified_time: 2026-11-15T11:00:19Z article:author: WeatherBug Meteorologist, Madison Ryke article:tag: meteor article:tag: meteor shower article:tag: November article:tag: leonids article:tag: taurids twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: November Meteor Showers 2026: When to See the Taurids and Leonids | WeatherBug twitter:description: One shower has peaked, another is just getting started and bright fireballs are still possible. twitter:image: https://cms-assets-con.cdn.weatherbug.net/assets/contentitems/0b/0b6f0131-ea54-44b6-949e-55df4c8ebd9a/52e0ce98-d40a-4283-82d1-d0fe816ebf4b/a4e96b2c-b6d1-498a-94da-4fb86bf4daf6.png --- [](/) [Back to forecast](/) # November Meteor Showers 2026: When to See the Taurids and Leonids > Sponsored content. 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The Taurids remain active, the Leonids are approaching their best viewing window and the two showers offer very different reasons to look up. The Leonids are exceptionally fast, while the Taurids are known for occasionally producing slow, bright fireballs. ### Quick Breakdown * **Leonid peak:** November 16 into November 17 * **Another good opportunity:** Before dawn on November 18 * **Possible Leonid rate:** Around 15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, although most viewers will see fewer * **Southern Taurids:** Active through November 20 * **Northern Taurids:** Active through December 10 * **Best viewing:** Late at night through the hours before sunrise * **Moon conditions:** Some interference around the Leonid peak, with darker viewing after moonset * **What to watch for:** Fast Leonids and occasional bright Taurid fireballs  ## What Meteor Showers Are Active in November 2026? Three named meteor showers are active during at least part of November: * The Southern Taurids * The Northern Taurids * The Leonids The Southern Taurids peaked earlier in the month, followed by the Northern Taurids around November 11 and 12\. The Leonids are next, reaching their peak in the middle of November. Having multiple active showers does not mean the sky will be filled with meteors. The Taurids typically produce only a few meteors per hour, and even the stronger Leonids require patience. Still, overlapping showers mean any clear November night could offer a chance to see something. ## When Does the Leonid Meteor Shower Peak? The Leonid meteor shower is active from November 6 through November 30, 2026\. Its official peak is expected November 16 into November 17. NASA also recommends watching during the early morning hours of November 17 and 18, especially after the Moon sets. The Leonid radiant, or the point where the meteors appear to originate, rises higher as the night progresses. That generally makes the hours before sunrise better than the early evening. If you only choose one viewing window, try the hours before sunrise on November 17\. If clouds get in the way, check again before dawn on November 18. ##  ## How Many Leonid Meteors Could You See? The Leonids could produce around 15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The phrase “ideal conditions” is doing a lot of work there. That rate assumes you are watching beneath a dark, clear sky with a wide-open view and little interference from the Moon. City lights, clouds, haze and nearby buildings can all reduce the number you actually see. Most backyard viewers will see fewer than 15 per hour. That does not mean the shower is a dud. It just means this is patient skywatching, not a nonstop light show. Give yourself at least an hour outside. Meteors often arrive unevenly, with several appearing close together followed by a quiet stretch. ## Could the Leonids Produce a Meteor Storm? The Leonids are famous for occasionally becoming much more than a typical meteor shower. Historic Leonid meteor storms have produced extraordinary numbers of meteors, including memorable events in 1833 and 1966\. During a meteor storm, observers can see hundreds or even thousands of meteors per hour. That is not expected in 2026. Forecast calculations suggest Earth may encounter a few older trails of comet debris, but those trails are not expected to contain enough material to cause a significant outburst. The regular shower is still worth watching. Leonids enter Earth’s atmosphere at roughly 44 miles per second, making them some of the fastest meteors we see each year. Brighter Leonids can also leave glowing trails that briefly remain visible after the meteor disappears. ##  ## Are the Taurids Still Active? Yes. A meteor shower does not shut off the moment its official peak passes. The Southern Taurids remain active through November 20, while the Northern Taurids continue through December 10. Taurid activity is usually low, with only a few meteors per hour under ideal conditions. Their appeal is not the number of meteors. It is the possibility of seeing an especially bright one. The Taurids have a reputation for producing fireballs, which are meteors bright enough to stand out dramatically against the night sky. Some can even be visible from places with moderate light pollution. The contrast is simple: **The Leonids bring speed. The Taurids bring the possibility of a slower, brighter fireball.** ## Can You See Meteors After the Peak? Absolutely. The peak marks the period when activity is expected to be highest. It is not the only night when meteors can appear. Activity builds before the peak and gradually fades afterward. The Leonids remain active through November 30, so you can still see one later in the month. A clear, dark night just before or after the official peak may give you a better experience than spending peak night beneath thick clouds. Sporadic meteors, which are not connected to a known shower, can also appear at any time.  ## Where Should You Look? You do not need to find the constellations Leo or Taurus to watch these showers. Meteors can cross a large section of the sky, and their trails often appear longer farther away from the radiant. Find the darkest, most open view available and look across a broad area overhead. You also do not need a telescope or binoculars. Those tools narrow your view too much. Your eyes are the best equipment for watching a meteor shower. ## How Will the Moon Affect Viewing? The Moon will be about 39% illuminated around the Leonid peak. While it is above the horizon, moonlight may hide some of the fainter meteors. Viewing should improve after moonset, which is another reason the predawn hours are favored. The Moon will continue growing brighter later in the month, reaching its full supermoon phase on November 24\. That brighter sky could make faint Leonids harder to spot as November continues. A bright Taurid fireball, however, could still cut through some of that moonlight. ## Will the Weather Cooperate? The official peak gets most of the attention, but cloud cover will determine whether you can actually see the show. Before making plans, check: * Hourly cloud cover * Visibility * Rain or snow chances * Overnight temperatures * Wind and wind chill Conditions can change throughout the night. If clouds are expected early but begin clearing after midnight, the later viewing window may end up being your best one. **Before heading outside, check the hourly cloud cover and overnight forecast in the WeatherBug app. A clear sky may matter more than watching on the exact peak night.** ## How to Watch the November Meteor Showers A little preparation can make a cold night outside much more enjoyable: * Find a dark, safe location away from city lights. * Give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust. * Put your phone away or turn its brightness down. * Bring a reclining chair or blanket so you can look up comfortably. * Dress for the overnight temperature, not the warmer afternoon. * Watch for at least an hour. * Check cloud cover before leaving home. November is not offering one giant meteor spectacle. It is giving skywatchers several different chances to look up. The Leonids provide speed, the Taurids offer the possibility of bright fireballs and the weather will decide which nights are truly worth staying awake for. We use technologies, such as cookies, to analyze your use (i.e., pages visited), to customize content, for our internal analytics purposes and for security and other purposes. By continuing to use this website, you agree to this usage. Please review our [privacy policy](/legal/privacy) for more details as well as for information on how to contact us to object to these activities. [Ad Choices](/legal/privacy#digitaladvertisingandyourchoices) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.weatherbug.com/news/November-Meteor-Showers-2026-When-to-See-the-Taurids-and-Leonids"},"headline":"November Meteor Showers 2026: When to See the Taurids and Leonids","description":"One shower has peaked, another is just getting started and bright fireballs are still possible.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://cms-assets-con.cdn.weatherbug.net/assets/contentitems/0b/0b6f0131-ea54-44b6-949e-55df4c8ebd9a/52e0ce98-d40a-4283-82d1-d0fe816ebf4b/a4e96b2c-b6d1-498a-94da-4fb86bf4daf6.png","caption":"November meteor showers are picking up speed"},{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://cms-assets-con.cdn.weatherbug.net/assets/contentitems/d4/d46b05af-35ae-4a3d-8e4d-fc0ea465eb5b/52e0ce98-d40a-4283-82d1-d0fe816ebf4b/43daf2f3-38df-4d09-8348-16068301fb96.png","caption":"How a Meteor Shower Happens"},"https://cms-assets-con.cdn.weatherbug.net/assets/contentitems/7a/7a9fc6f0-6725-465b-bca0-c6c06230036e/52e0ce98-d40a-4283-82d1-d0fe816ebf4b/2ab14fd0-e169-442e-ba63-98ab200a8570.png","https://cms-assets-con.cdn.weatherbug.net/assets/contentitems/b4/b4c04bdd-9374-4f99-ab2b-02ffafa64ed2/52e0ce98-d40a-4283-82d1-d0fe816ebf4b/410c8c30-8358-4998-a94e-57e2f91ca437.png","https://cms-assets-con.cdn.weatherbug.net/assets/contentitems/27/27ac18db-ae9a-4be8-9692-63f63ef407ae/52e0ce98-d40a-4283-82d1-d0fe816ebf4b/7a9f5445-be5d-481f-bdec-709340281e36.png"],"datePublished":"2026-11-15T11:00:19Z","dateModified":"2026-11-15T11:00:19Z","dateCreated":"2026-11-15T11:00:19Z","articleSection":"Weather News","keywords":"meteor,meteor shower,November,leonids,taurids","articleBody":"This November is absolutely jam packed with chances to see bright meteors flash across the sky. One shower may now be past peak but several more are still active through the end of the month. The Taurids remain active, the Leonids are approaching their best viewing window and the two showers offer very different reasons to look up. The Leonids are exceptionally fast, while the Taurids are known for occasionally producing slow, bright fireballs. Quick Breakdown Leonid peak: November 16 into November 17 Another good opportunity: Before dawn on November 18 Possible Leonid rate: Around 15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, although most viewers will see fewer Southern Taurids: Active through November 20 Northern Taurids: Active through December 10 Best viewing: Late at night through the hours before sunrise Moon conditions: Some interference around the Leonid peak, with darker viewing after moonset What to watch for: Fast Leonids and occasional bright Taurid fireballs What Meteor Showers Are Active in November 2026? Three named meteor showers are active during at least part of November: The Southern Taurids The Northern Taurids The Leonids The Southern Taurids peaked earlier in the month, followed by the Northern Taurids around November 11 and 12. The Leonids are next, reaching their peak in the middle of November. Having multiple active showers does not mean the sky will be filled with meteors. The Taurids typically produce only a few meteors per hour, and even the stronger Leonids require patience. Still, overlapping showers mean any clear November night could offer a chance to see something. When Does the Leonid Meteor Shower Peak? The Leonid meteor shower is active from November 6 through November 30, 2026. Its official peak is expected November 16 into November 17. NASA also recommends watching during the early morning hours of November 17 and 18, especially after the Moon sets. The Leonid radiant, or the point where the meteors appear to originate, rises higher as the night progresses. That generally makes the hours before sunrise better than the early evening. If you only choose one viewing window, try the hours before sunrise on November 17. If clouds get in the way, check again before dawn on November 18. How Many Leonid Meteors Could You See? The Leonids could produce around 15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The phrase “ideal conditions” is doing a lot of work there. That rate assumes you are watching beneath a dark, clear sky with a wide-open view and little interference from the Moon. City lights, clouds, haze and nearby buildings can all reduce the number you actually see. Most backyard viewers will see fewer than 15 per hour. That does not mean the shower is a dud. It just means this is patient skywatching, not a nonstop light show. Give yourself at least an hour outside. Meteors often arrive unevenly, with several appearing close together followed by a quiet stretch. Could the Leonids Produce a Meteor Storm? The Leonids are famous for occasionally becoming much more than a typical meteor shower. Historic Leonid meteor storms have produced extraordinary numbers of meteors, including memorable events in 1833 and 1966. During a meteor storm, observers can see hundreds or even thousands of meteors per hour. That is not expected in 2026. Forecast calculations suggest Earth may encounter a few older trails of comet debris, but those trails are not expected to contain enough material to cause a significant outburst. The regular shower is still worth watching. Leonids enter Earth’s atmosphere at roughly 44 miles per second, making them some of the fastest meteors we see each year. Brighter Leonids can also leave glowing trails that briefly remain visible after the meteor disappears. Are the Taurids Still Active? Yes. A meteor shower does not shut off the moment its official peak passes. The Southern Taurids remain active through November 20, while the Northern Taurids continue through December 10. Taurid activity is usually low, with only a few meteors per hour under ideal conditions. Their appeal is not the number of meteors. It is the possibility of seeing an especially bright one. The Taurids have a reputation for producing fireballs, which are meteors bright enough to stand out dramatically against the night sky. Some can even be visible from places with moderate light pollution. The contrast is simple: The Leonids bring speed. The Taurids bring the possibility of a slower, brighter fireball. Can You See Meteors After the Peak? Absolutely. The peak marks the period when activity is expected to be highest. It is not the only night when meteors can appear. Activity builds before the peak and gradually fades afterward. The Leonids remain active through November 30, so you can still see one later in the month. A clear, dark night just before or after the official peak may give you a better experience than spending peak night beneath thick clouds. Sporadic meteors, which are not connected to a known shower, can also appear at any time. Where Should You Look? You do not need to find the constellations Leo or Taurus to watch these showers. Meteors can cross a large section of the sky, and their trails often appear longer farther away from the radiant. Find the darkest, most open view available and look across a broad area overhead. You also do not need a telescope or binoculars. Those tools narrow your view too much. Your eyes are the best equipment for watching a meteor shower. How Will the Moon Affect Viewing? The Moon will be about 39% illuminated around the Leonid peak. While it is above the horizon, moonlight may hide some of the fainter meteors. Viewing should improve after moonset, which is another reason the predawn hours are favored. The Moon will continue growing brighter later in the month, reaching its full supermoon phase on November 24. That brighter sky could make faint Leonids harder to spot as November continues. A bright Taurid fireball, however, could still cut through some of that moonlight. Will the Weather Cooperate? The official peak gets most of the attention, but cloud cover will determine whether you can actually see the show. Before making plans, check: Hourly cloud cover Visibility Rain or snow chances Overnight temperatures Wind and wind chill Conditions can change throughout the night. If clouds are expected early but begin clearing after midnight, the later viewing window may end up being your best one. Before heading outside, check the hourly cloud cover and overnight forecast in the WeatherBug app. A clear sky may matter more than watching on the exact peak night. How to Watch the November Meteor Showers A little preparation can make a cold night outside much more enjoyable: Find a dark, safe location away from city lights. Give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust. Put your phone away or turn its brightness down. Bring a reclining chair or blanket so you can look up comfortably. Dress for the overnight temperature, not the warmer afternoon. Watch for at least an hour. Check cloud cover before leaving home. November is not offering one giant meteor spectacle. It is giving skywatchers several different chances to look up. The Leonids provide speed, the Taurids offer the possibility of bright fireballs and the weather will decide which nights are truly worth staying awake for.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Madison Ryke","jobTitle":"Meteorologist"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"WeatherBug","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.weatherbug.com/images/sharing/f1ff28ba-6f06-4745-a782-011a20397e16.png"}}} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.weatherbug.com/news/November-Meteor-Showers-2026-When-to-See-the-Taurids-and-Leonids","relatedLink":"https://www.weatherbug.com/news/November-Meteor-Showers-2026-When-to-See-the-Taurids-and-Leonids"},"name":"WeatherBug","url":"https://www.weatherbug.com/news/November-Meteor-Showers-2026-When-to-See-the-Taurids-and-Leonids","headline":"November Meteor Showers 2026: When to See the Taurids and Leonids","description":"One shower has peaked, another is just getting started and bright fireballs are still possible.","dateModified":"2026-11-15T11:00:19Z","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"WeatherBug","url":"https://www.weatherbug.com","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/WeatherBug","https://instagram.com/WeatherBug","https://www.linkedin.com/company/weatherbug","https://www.pinterest.com/weatherbug","https://twitter.com/WeatherBug","https://www.youtube.com/user/WeatherBugVideo"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.weatherbug.com/images/logos/weatherbug_logo_620x447.png"}},"author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"WeatherBug","url":"https://www.weatherbug.com","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/WeatherBug","https://instagram.com/WeatherBug","https://www.linkedin.com/company/weatherbug","https://www.pinterest.com/weatherbug","https://twitter.com/WeatherBug","https://www.youtube.com/user/WeatherBugVideo"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.weatherbug.com/images/logos/weatherbug_logo_620x447.png"}}} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"WeatherBug","logo":"https://www.weatherbug.com/images/logos/weatherbug_logo_620x447.png","url":"https://www.weatherbug.com","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/WeatherBug","https://instagram.com/WeatherBug","https://www.linkedin.com/company/weatherbug","https://www.pinterest.com/weatherbug","https://twitter.com/WeatherBug","https://www.youtube.com/user/WeatherBugVideo"]} ```