Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Calendar House announced that those residing in the Northern Hemisphere, including those in Qatar, will have the opportunity to view the shimmery Leonid meteor shower tomorrow, November 17, 2025.
The meteor shower, active annually from November 6 to 30, will peak on Monday evening, and continue until dawn on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
Dr. Bashir Marzouq, an astronomer at the Qatar Calendar House, stated that residents of Qatar can witness the astronomical phenomenon with naked eye if one looks towards the northeastern horizon right after midnight until dawn on Tuesday. He noted that the best viewing locations are those far from light and environmental pollution. At its peak, meteor shower is expected to produce approximately 40 meteors per hour, according to estimates by experts.
Marzouq pointed out that the Leonid meteor shower will have a good chance of being visible this year because the moon will be in its waning crescent phase. This means the moon will not be visible in the sky at the time of observation, as the moon will rise over Qatar at 4:08 AM on Tuesday.
The Leonid meteor shower is a tiny fragment from Comet Tempel-Tuttle. This occurs when the Earth, in its orbit around the sun, passes near the dust particles left behind by the comet every November. These particles then intersect with the Earth's atmosphere, creating a flash of light visible in the sky. It's worth noting that meteor showers in general are caused by the Earth passing through the debris trails left by comets.
The best places to view the Leonid meteor shower are dark locations, far from residential areas with light and environmental pollution. The best time to see the shower is from midnight until dawn the following day.
The next major shower after the Leonids is the Geminid meteor shower which will peak in second week of December.
