Seventy-One Kilometers per Second: The Velocity of the Leonids
The annual Leonid meteor shower is set to peak in the night from Tuesday, November 17, to Wednesday, November 18, 2026, noordernieuws.be reported. Observers watching from Essen, Kalmthout, Wuustwezel, and surrounding municipalities will face entry speeds of approximately 71 kilometers per second—translating to more than 250,000 kilometers per hour. Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle leaves this debris trail during its orbit around the sun, which Earth crosses every November.
International guidelines set the baseline rate at roughly 15 meteors per hour under pristine conditions. Telescopes remain unnecessary for the event. A dark location, warm layers, and an open view of the sky serve as the primary requirements for viewing.
Aim for pre-dawn hours to watch meteors
The calculated theoretical maximum occurs on Wednesday, November 18, at around 00.45 Belgian winter time. However, the radiant—the constellation Leo from which the meteors appear to originate—sits low on the horizon just after midnight and climbs higher as the night progresses. Observers do not need to set their alarms for the midnight peak.
The most productive viewing window runs from 04.00 to 06.00 on Wednesday morning. During these pre-dawn hours, the radiant stands in a favorable south-southeast position. The moon sets in Antwerp at approximately 00.10 on November 18, removing lunar light interference for the remainder of the night. Astronomical twilight begins around 06.07, brightening the sky before sunrise at 08.04.
Backyard Vantage Points Versus Protected Nature Reserves
Open skies matter more than long-distance travel. A dark backyard in Essen, Kalmthout, or Wuustwezel with a clear view away from streetlights provides a suitable vantage point. The Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide remains off-limits for nighttime visits, as public access is restricted to the hours between sunrise and sunset. Observers must avoid entering the deep nature reserve after dark and instead select accessible locations outside the park boundaries.
Houd rekening met twintig tot dertig minuten gewenning aan het donker. Alongside the Leonids, northern Taurids reaching their peak around November 12 add occasional slower, brighter meteors to the night sky.
Answers to common meteor viewing questions
Does watching on the evening of Tuesday, November 17, make sense?
Hours after midnight offer better conditions for Leonids because the radiant rises higher in the sky.
Do the meteors impact the ground?
The tiny particles causing the shower burn up high in the upper atmosphere. A meteorite refers strictly to a remnant that survives the atmospheric journey and reaches the surface, which differs from the brief light streaks seen during meteor showers.
Must observers stay awake the entire night?
A quiet, one-hour session in the early morning hours is sufficient for viewing. Observers must account for 20 to 30 minutes of dark adaptation and occasional lulls in activity.
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