The Leonid meteor shower reaches its maximum peak in the early hours of November 17th to 18th, 2025. The crescent moon illuminated by just 9% generates little light interference. Two days later, the micro new moon on November 20 guarantees total darkness in the sky.
These consecutive conditions create one of the best windows of the year for observing meteors and deep-sky objects in the Southern Hemisphere. Observers in Brazil count on favorable times and low lunar pollution on both dates.
- Pico das Leónidas scheduled for November 17-18
- Moon with only 9% illumination
- Micro new moon on November 20th close to its peak
- Ideal for seeing galaxies, nebulae and clusters
Leónidas Peak occurs in favorable conditions
The Leónidas reach maximum activity in the early hours of November 17th to 18th. The radiant is in the constellation Leo, which rises on the eastern horizon at around 11pm in Brazil.
The expected rate is up to 15 meteors per hour in dark places. The high speed of meteors, around 71 km/s, produces long, fast trails.
The only 9% crescent moon sets before midnight across much of the country. This feature drastically reduces lunar brightness during the period of greatest activity.
Micro new moon ensures total darkness two days later
The new moon on November 20th occurs close to orbital apogee. The greater distance from Earth makes the phenomenon known as a micro new moon.
As the visible side of the Moon is completely without sunlight, the sky reaches the lowest possible level of lunar clarity. This condition remains throughout the night.
Observers can see objects of a weaker magnitude than usual. The absence of moonlight especially benefits regions with moderate light pollution.
Best locations and times in Brazil
Inland regions of Minas Gerais, Goiás and the interior of São Paulo have low levels of light pollution. Coastal cities also offer good visibility when observing towards the sea.
For the Leonids, the ideal is to observe from midnight until dawn on the 18th. The radiant rises higher and higher in the sky throughout the dawn.
On the night of the micro new moon, observation can begin shortly after sunset. There is no specific time, as total darkness remains until sunrise.
Deep-sky objects become more accessible
The Galaxy ofAndromeda (M31) appears visible to the naked eye in very dark places. Binoculars reveal its bright core and fuzzy extent.
The Orion Nebula (M42) shows details even with small equipment. The Pleiades cluster also gains greater contrast without lunar interference.
Other easy targets include the globular cluster Omega Centauri and the Large Magellanic Cloud. Both are well positioned in the southern sky throughout the night of November 20th.
Practical tips increase chances of success
Acclimatizing the eyes to darkness takes about 30 minutes. Avoiding white light from cell phones and flashlights preserves night vision.
Warm clothing is necessary in much of the country during the early morning hours of November. Reclining chair or treadmill facilitates long periods of observation.
Apps like Stellarium and SkySafari help you locate the radiant Leonids. For the micro new moon, deep-sky maps indicate the station’s best targets.