If you're in Seattle and looking at the Leonid's meteor shower, climate plays a huge part in whether you’ll really get a great see. Based on the current estimate, skies are to a great extent cloudy overnight, with discontinuous clouds and temperatures plunging into the moo 40s °F (around 5 °C). There’s a chance of rain afterward in the night, particularly after midnight, which might assist obstruct chances of seeing meteors clearly.
Midnight to early hours: Irregular clouds — not completely cloudy, but not clear skies either.
Pre-dawn: Cloud cover increments and rain gets to be more likely.
Given that the best time to see meteors is regularly between midnight and day break, these conditions are not perfect for stargazing. The cloud cover and precipitation may piece much of the sky, particularly in eastern and northern skylines where the meteor brilliant is anticipated to be more active.
What Are the Leonid's?
The Leonid meteor shower is one of the most popular yearly showers. It’s caused by Soil passing through the flotsam and jetsam path cleared out by comet 55P/Temple-Tuttle.
Space & Telescope
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Time and Date
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Here are a few key facts:
Active period: November 6–30, 2025.
American Meteor Society
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Peak: Between November 16–17, 2025, particularly in the pre-dawn hours.
Star Walk
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Space & Telescope
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Expected rate: Around 10–15 meteors per hour at crest beneath perfect conditions.
American Meteor Society
Radiant: The meteors show up to come from the star grouping Leo, particularly the sickle-shaped asterism.
Sky at Night Magazine
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Speed: These are exceptionally quick meteors — traveling at approximately 44 miles per moment (≈70 km/s).
The Climate Channel
Moonlight: One of the best things for seeing this year is the disappearing bow moon, as it were around 9% lit up amid top. That implies the sky will be generally dim, making strides meteor perceivability.
The Climate Channel
Why This Is a Awesome Year for Leonid's
Several things adjust to make the 2025 Leonid's especially favorable, accepting the climate cooperates:
Dark Skies: Since the moon is fair a lean bow, it won’t wash out black out meteors.
American Meteor Society
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Radiant Timing: The brilliant in Leo rises around midnight and climbs higher toward first light, which is precisely when meteor perceivability crests.
Space & Telescope
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Moderate Movement: In spite of the fact that not a storm year (i.e., no thousands of meteors per hour), the figure of ~15/hour is conventional for a normal meteor shower.
American Meteor Society
Challenges for Seattle Observers
However, there are genuine challenges for seeing from Seattle this year, given the nearby climate forecast:
Cloud Cover: With irregular to diligent clouds overnight, particularly expanding toward first light, you’re improbable to get long extends of clear sky.
Rain Hazard: The figure recommends rain might start in the early morning. This not as it were darkens the sky but moreover makes it awkward to remain exterior for drawn out periods.
Light Contamination: As continuously in a city, light contamination is another constraining figure. Indeed amid a great meteor shower, city lights can suffocate out fainter meteors.
Because of these variables, indeed if the Leonid's are dynamic, Seattle watchers may as it were capture a few — if any — of the brighter streaks, unless a few breaks in the clouds occur.
How to Maximize Your Seeing Chances (In the event that You Choose to Try)
If you're decided to attempt catching the Leonid's in spite of the less-than-ideal estimate, here are a few techniques to progress your odds:
Pick Your Area Wisely
Try to move absent from city lights as much as conceivable. Indeed a rural spot with marginally darker skies will help.
Look for open zones where you have a wide field of see, in a perfect world with a clear see toward the eastern to southern sky (where Leo will be higher).
Time It Right
Begin observing in no time after midnight, when the brilliant is up but some time recently the probability of rain increases.
Stay out for at slightest 1–2 hours: meteor showers regularly choose up in escalated as the brilliant climbs higher, but you require time for your eyes to adjust and for more meteors to appear.
Be Comfortable and Prepared
Dress exceptionally warmly — Seattle evenings in November can be sharp, particularly when you’re sitting or lying down for long periods.
Bring a cover or leaning back chair so you can lie back comfortably and observe the sky without straining your neck.
Use a ruddy electric lamp (or cover a ordinary electric lamp with ruddy cellophane) to protect your night vision.
Let Your Eyes Adjust
When you get into position, donate your eyes 20–30 minutes to ended up acclimated to the dim. This increments your affectability to black out meteors.
Avoid looking at your phone or any shinning light that will demolish your night vision.
Use Tools
Use a star chart app (like Tellurium, Sky Guide, or comparative) to find the star grouping Leo and the brilliant point.
Sky at Night Magazine
If conceivable, bring a thermos with a warm drink — remaining cozy will offer assistance you remain exterior longer.
What You Might Really See
Given the forecasted rate of approximately 10–15 meteors per hour beneath perfect conditions, what you might practically see in Seattle — if the sky clears up — might be fair a few meteors. But here’s what to trust for:
Bright Streaks: A few of the speedier, brighter Leonid's may deliver unmistakable streaks and indeed short-lived trails.
Fireballs: Whereas not a storm year, Leonid's are known for intermittent fireball meteors — exceptionally shinning meteors that can take off waiting shine.
Earth Grazers: These are uncommon meteors that skim the upper climate at a exceptionally shallow point, in some cases clearing out long, moderate trails. A few experienced eyewitnesses conversation around catching these amid Leonid's.
Direction: Indeed in spite of the fact that the brilliant is in Leo, meteors can show up anyplace in the sky, so don’t fair gaze at one spot.
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