How to Watch One of the Most Dazzling Meteor Showers of the Year
The Perseids are an annual meteor shower that started in July, but astronomers expect the light show to be at its best between the evening hours of August 12 through to August 13. Famous for its typically high volume of swift, bright meteors, these burning space rocks leave long streaks of colorful light across the night sky in their wake, according to NASA. The Perseids' ability to produce fireballs is due to large chunks of material falling from the comet Swift-Tuttle as it makes its way around the Sun—every year Earth passes through the trail of debris and dust the comet leaves behind, and the interaction between that debris and our atmosphere is what causes the Perseids.
Under ideal conditions, the Perseid shower can produce 50 to 100 shooting stars per hour, the agency says. This year may be a little different, however, as a near-full Moon during those peak hours could make it especially difficult to see the Perseids in their full glory.
'In 2025, the waning gibbous moon will severely compromise this shower at the time of maximum activity,' the AMS states. 'Such conditions will reduce activity by at least 75 percent as only the brighter meteors will be visible.'
The August full Moon—also known as the Sturgeon Moon—rises on Saturday, August 9. That means that while it won't be completely full when the Perseids peak, it will still be bright enough to blot out some of the falling meteors. But there are things you can do to improve your chances of seeing some.
The number one rule of skywatching is to create the darkest conditions possible. You can't change the brightness of a near-full Moon, but you can take advantage of the shadows it casts, according to EarthSky. Instead of standing out in the open, choose a spot in the shadow of a tree or building—just make sure it doesn't obstruct your view. This will block out the moonlight and make it easier to spot shooting stars. It's also important to select a viewing location far from sources of light pollution. The more rural your spot, the more meteors you'll see. Looking at a smartphone, laptop, or tablet can affect your vision, too, so put them away and enjoy the view.
Even under a bright Moon, the best time of night to see shooting stars is between midnight and pre-dawn. This is when the sky is darkest and the Perseid shower is most active. During these hours, Earth is positioned so that you are on its leading side, according to The Planetary Society. This allows you to watch meteors as they come straight at the planet.
The Perseid shower is especially visible in the northern hemisphere because its radiant—the point in the sky from which its meteors appear to originate—is somewhat north on the sky's dome, The Planetary Society says. While the shooting stars are actually falling from the comet Swift-Tuttle, they look to our eyes like they come from the constellation Perseus, hence the name. You don't have to stare directly at the radiant to see them, however. In fact, the ideal place to look is 45 degrees away from this point.
The shower will remain active through the end of August, but is most dazzling in mid-August.
And if you don't manage to catch the Perseids, don't fret. Another meteor shower is just around the corner: The Geminids, which also occur annually, will take place under moonless conditions in December, according to NASA.
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