In Colorado, the Leonids are best around 5:10 AM on the night of the peak (November 17, 2026), when the radiant stands about 66° high. Under a truly dark sky you could see roughly 14 meteors per hour. Astronomical darkness runs from 6:25 PM to 5:19 AM, and the moon will be 51% lit and below the horizon at the best time.
Best time
5:10 AM
local time
Est. rate
14/h
dark sky
Radiant
66° high
toward SE
Moon
51%
down
Dark places to watch the Leonids in Colorado
| Location | Type | Est. Bortle |
|---|---|---|
| Nucla | Dark Sky Place | 1 |
| Norwood | Dark Sky Place | 1 |
| Naturita | Dark Sky Place | 1 |
| Dinosaur National Monument | Dark Sky Place | 1 |
| Silver Cliff | Dark Sky Place | 2 |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | Dark Sky Place | 2 |
| Westcliffe | Dark Sky Place | 2 |
| Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve | Dark Sky Place | 2 |
| Mesa Verde National Park | Dark Sky Place | 2 |
| Mancos State Park | State Park | 2 |