FREE and open to the public.
Come join BBAA members as we attempt to observe the Leonids Meteor Shower at the Heritage Park & Joel C. Bradshaw Fairgrounds on the outskirts of Windsor, VA.
Mid-November meteors … the Leonids
Predicted peak: The peak is predicted** for 18 UTC on November 17, 2025.
When to watch: Watch late on the night of November 16 until dawn on November 17. The morning of November 18 might be worthwhile, too.
Duration of shower: November 3 through December 2. This time period is when we’re passing through the meteor stream in space!
Radiant: Rises around midnight, highest in the sky at dawn.
Nearest moon phase: In 2025, the new moon falls at 6:47 UTC on November 20. So the slender waning crescent moon will not interfere with meteors in 2025.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, you might see 10 to 15 Leonid meteors per hour.
Note: The famous Leonid meteor shower produced one of the greatest meteor storms in living memory. Rates were as high as thousands of meteors per minute during a 15-minute span on the morning of November 17, 1966. That night, Leonid meteors did, briefly, fall like rain. Some who witnessed it had a strong impression of Earth moving through space, fording the meteor stream. Leonid meteor storms sometimes recur in cycles of 33 to 34 years. But the Leonids around the turn of the century – while wonderful for many observers – did not match the shower of 1966. And, in most years, the Lion whimpers rather than roars.
Report a fireball (very bright meteor) to the American Meteor Society: it’s fun and easy:
https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo/report_intro/
Please remember to be courteous when driving near the observing area since headlights can ruin night vision in an instant.
Bringing the following items can enhance your experience at this event:
- Bug spray
- Reclining chair or air mattress
- Red light ONLY flashlight
- Blanket
- Extra change of clothes (in case of extreme dew)
Light Pollution Map for this location:
https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=10.00&lat=36.8507&lon=-76.7456&layers=B0FFFFFFTFFFFFFFFFF
Also check out other Parties in Windsor, Entertainment events in Windsor.
