The Perseid meteor shower, widely considered one of the most anticipated and impressive celestial displays in the Northern Hemisphere, is set to reach its peak activity soon. According to the American Meteor Society, the shower will peak on the nights of Aug. 12 and 13. While the meteors are active from July 17 through Aug. 24, activity will build steadily each night until the peak, providing skywatchers with a prime opportunity to witness the event, provided weather conditions remain clear.
This year’s viewing conditions are expected to be ideal, largely due to the presence of a dark new moon during the peak. Observers situated under dark, rural skies may see between 30 and 50 shooting stars per hour. Because meteor activity often intensifies throughout the night, the best chances for viewing occur in the predawn hours. At this time, the shower’s radiant—the specific point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate—reaches its highest position above the horizon, which makes the streaks of light easier to spot.
The Perseids are a favorite among observers, particularly because they occur during the warm August nights common across much of the Northern Hemisphere. The meteors themselves are the result of debris left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. As the comet orbits the sun, it sheds dust that forms trails along its path. Each year, as Earth passes through these streams of debris, the particles enter the atmosphere and burn up, creating the bright, colorful streaks visible in the night sky. The comet was originally discovered by American astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle in 1862 and takes approximately 133 years to complete a single orbit around the sun.
NASA notes that while charts showing Perseid activity levels are available, these models do not account for variables like moonlight, cloud cover, or solar effects. For those planning to watch, experts at EarthSky recommend heading to a location with dark, clear skies and allowing enough time for eyes to adjust to the darkness for the best experience.
Here's everything you need to know about the Perseid meteor shower, including when and where to get the best view.
This chart uses data from 2014 to 2020 to show expected levels of Perseid meteor shower activity; it does not take into account the effects of the sun, moon and clouds, according to NASA.
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