How to Photograph the Leonid Meteor Shower

You can try to take photographs of meteors on any given night, but your chances of capturing one on camera will increase dramatically during major meteor showers like the Leonids.

With fast, bright, and colorful fireballs, averaging 15 meteors per hour and peaking around mid-November each year, the Leonid meteor shower definitely deserves a spot in your astronomical calendar—and photo gallery!

Surprisingly, taking photos of the Leonids isn’t as tricky as it seems.

This guide will show you when, where, and how to target your camera to get stunning, high-quality shots of the meteors.

When and Where to See the Leonid Meteor Shower

The Leonid meteor shower is an annual celestial event. It occurs as pieces of space debris from comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle interact with the Earth’s atmosphere.

In 2024, the Leonid meteor shower is active from November 6 to 30, and its peak falls on the evening of November 17 to the morning of November 18. According to NASA, it’s best viewed from midnight and lasts until dawn.

This year, the moon phase during the Leonids’ peak is waning gibbous, with an illumination of around 94%. This can make photographing the meteor shower a bit difficult since the moonlight will wash out some of the meteors.

From the Earth’s perspective, the radiant, or the point where the meteors appear to come from, is the head or “sickle” of the Northern constellation Leo. However, the shooting stars will be visible across the night sky, so you don’t have to look directly at Leo to find them.

Every 33 years or so, the Earth can experience a breathtaking Leonid meteor storm that can peak with over 1,000 meteors per hour! One of the most spectacular storms was in 1833, with an estimated 100,000 meteors per hour. The latest Leonid meteor storm was in 2002.

How to Photograph the Leonid Meteor Shower

Here’s a quick guide to capturing unforgettable shots of the Leonids with your camera:

1. Choose the Best Time and Location

For the best viewing and picture-taking conditions, find a safe spot away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.

Since your camera is sensitive to stray light, the further you can get away from urban spaces, cities, and towns, the better.

One good tip is to use a Light Pollution Map to locate dark skies, as they’re essential for night sky photography. Check your local weather and moon phase, and pick a date close to the peak when the skies are clear.

Low humidity, low dust, and few clouds are best for meteor visibility.

Additionally, taking photos near the new moon phase is ideal. There’s no moon visible in the sky, allowing for darker nights. The meteors will look brighter, sharper, and more spectacular.

• More: Tips for Better Night Photography

2. Prepare Your Meteor Photography Kit

Now that you’ve decided on a shooting location, it’s time to pack the equipment you’ll need:

Camera

Any digital camera with a manual mode will do for photographing the Leonid meteor shower. You’ll need to be able to set the focus, aperture, ISO, and shutter speed. For best results, a DSLR or a mirrorless camera is advisable.

Lens

Wide-angle lenses are ideal for taking shots of meteor showers. The shorter the focal length, the wider your view of the night sky will be, increasing your chances of capturing a meteor.

Tripod

You’ll need a sturdy and reliable tripod for the shake-free shooting of long exposures. If you need to make yours more stable on windy nights, you can weigh it down with sandbags.

Intervalometer

An intervalometer or a shutter release cable will come in handy, as you’ll be taking multiple frames throughout the night. It’ll also get rid of vibrations from pressing the shutter button.

Spare Batteries and Memory Cards

Your camera’s battery and storage can deplete quickly with continuous shooting. Bring a backup battery and memory cards to avoid running out of juice and space!

Warm Clothing

While waiting to get the perfect meteor shot, the night can get chilly. Wear the right clothing, use multiple layers, and bring a deck chair and a hot drink to keep you warm and comfy.

• More: Best Lenses for Night Photography

3. Position Your Camera

 

If possible, head to your shooting location early to give you time to set up your tripod, mount your camera, and connect your intervalometer. Remember, stability is key!

Now is also the time to pick your exact shooting spot, decide on the placement of your subjects, and fine-tune your camera framing. You can use a stargazing app, like PhotoPills, to find the radiant or the point where the Leonids will seem to originate in the sky.

Meteors close to the radiant will look smaller and less spectacular. So, instead of aiming directly, position the radiant towards the edge of your frame, shooting around 45 to 60 degrees from it.

Adding an interesting subject to your foreground can make your image even more special.

4. Adjust Your Camera Settings

 

Make sure that you’re shooting in manual mode, and use RAW file format, especially if you plan to post-process your photos.

You can use your camera’s Live View function to zoom into a bright star and manually set your focus. For the aperture, open up as wide as your lens will allow.

Start with an ISO of 1600 to 3200 and adjust from there, according to your camera’s performance and the level of light pollution in your location.

To keep your stars nice and sharp and avoid star trails, use the 500 rule in setting your shutter speed.

• More: Beginner’s Guide to Astrophotography

5. Start Taking Successive Shots

 

You might want to take a few test shots to see if your images are clear, focused, and well-exposed. Tweak your settings a bit more until you’re happy with the quality.

Then, it’s time to set your intervalometer to run for as long as you want, with 1 to 2-second intervals between the exposures to increase your chances of capturing a dashing meteor.

Don’t forget to check on your battery level, memory space, and for dew on your lens during the night.

Last but not least, remember that the Leonid meteor shower is a one-of-a-kind celestial event, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!