The Best Meteor Shower of the Year Is Peaking This Weekend
Expect an average of 100 meteors per hour during the Perseids's peak.
Close your eyes and get ready to make 100 or more wishes—or actually, you'd better keep your eyes open for this one!
The beloved Perseid meteor shower is officially upon us, and like every year, it is active from mid-July to late August. However, as NASA points out, this year, it is peaking on the night of Sunday, August 11, and before dawn on August 12, which is this weekend. In addition to this, the days surrounding the peak—August 10 and August 13—should also provide opportunities to see the shower.
We've got some excellent news for you, stargazers. It's supposed to be a great year for Perseid meteors, which are generally thought to be one of the most impressive meteor showers most years. According to Space.com, the moon will be 50% illuminated during the shower's peak times, but since it will set around midnight, the sky should be pretty dark throughout the night, which makes it the perfect condition for watching meteors.
Don't worry about missing out—there are supposed to be many. The Perseids flaunt a very high rate of meteors per hour, and they can reach a rate of between 150 and 200 per hour during a "meteor storm" year. The next one, reportedly, is expected to happen in 2028, so make sure to write a note in your calendars. On average, according to NASA, you can catch around 100 per hour.
Though the Perseids are peaking this weekend, they have already been active since mid-July, so stargazers have already captured some gorgeous shots of the shower ahead of its peak. Earlier today, astrophotographer Mary McIntyre shared photos captured by meteor cameras on X, and many Perseids can be seen streaking across the night sky.
Where to look for the Perseid meteor shower
Now, onto the important stuff. Where and when should you locate yourself to see them better? The answer is the Northern Hemisphere, to start. In terms of an actual spot, you should aim to find the darkest possible location, so it is advisable to do some research and find the nearest Dark Site or a place with very low light pollution. You might want to go to sleep early before your stargazing endeavor, though—the best time to catch them is the pre-dawn hours.
Once you've done that, you're pretty much set—you won't need any equipment or binoculars, but you should allow your eyes to adapt to the dark. To do that, lie down and look at the sky towards the north for a good 30 minutes, after which you can expect to start seeing some gorgeous shooting stars. Additionally, NASA recommends getting comfortable—bring a blanket or a sleeping bag, and plan to lie flat on your back. Happy stargazing!
Ready to go stargazing?
Here are all the best stargazing events that you can get out and see this month or you could stay in and stream the northern lights from home. If you're just getting started, check out our guide to astronomy for beginners or easy stargazing road trips from big US cities.