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Forbes
08-07-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Your Ultimate Guide To Meteor Showers And The Perseids — By An Expert
A fireball streaks across the morning sky above NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), a Program ... More of NSF NOIRLab funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. What's a summer without a meteor shower? If lying underneath a sky full of stars waiting for meteors is your thing, summer in the Northern Hemisphere brings one not-to-be-missed opportunity — the Perseids. Sadly, that's not the case this year, with an almost full moon destined to bleach the sky so much that barely any of its 75-100 'shooting stars' per hour will be visible. Luckily, there are other summer meteor showers, and it just so happens that the peak night for two others overlaps with the best night to see at least a hint of the Perseids. From the famed Perseid meteor shower to the fireball-prone Alpha Capricornids and the reliable Delta Aquariids, here's everything you need to know about seeing 'shooting stars' this summer with this ultimate guide to meteor showers in summer 2025. Perseids: Summer's Moonstruck Meteor Shower The Perseid meteor shower is the most anticipated celestial event of the year for the Northern Hemisphere, but in 2025, special care is required to avoid disappointment. Active from July 17 to Aug. 23, the Perseids peak overnight on Aug. 12–13. In 2025, however, stargazers face a challenge: a full sturgeon moon on Aug. 9 will still be bright enough to outshine all but the brightest meteors during the peak. Here's the rub — ignore the peak night and instead opt for two moonless nights as close as possible to it: July 29–30 and August 15-16. On both occasions, you'll likely get a modest showing of Perseids — about 5 to 15 meteors per hour — but under truly dark, moonless skies. Even at lower rates, the Perseids can impress. Known for fast, bright meteors with long trails, they radiate from the constellation Perseus in the northeast. However, you don't need to fixate on any one direction—its meteors, like all meteors, can appear anywhere in the sky. Plus, there's an additional reason to skywatch for "shooting stars" on July 29-30. Delta Aquariids And Alpha Capricornids Peaking on the same night as the Perseid's best early showing will be no fewer than two meteor showers — the Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids. The Delta Aquariids will bring up to 25 faint meteors, but they're consistent and can be seen for a few nights on either side of the peak. Their radiant point lies near the constellation Aquarius in the southern sky. It's a similar story for the Alpha Capricornids, which also emanate from the southern sky in the constellation Capricornus. They'll number only five to 10 meteors per hour, but what they lack in numbers, they may make up for in spectacle because these slow, bright meteors can often be fireballs. Expert Advice On Seeing 'Shooting Stars' According to NASA, the best way to watch a meteor shower is to get out of the city, away from urban light pollution, to the darkest location you can find. A good option is a Dark Sky Place or a location that appears dark on a light pollution map. Allow at least 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust, and refrain from looking at your smartphone to allow your eyes to dark adapt. Have a wide, unobstructed view of the sky, a lawn chair or a blanket to lay down on, and do not try to use a telescope or binoculars — a rookie error that will hugely restrict your view. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Science
- Forbes
How To See The Bootid Meteor Shower This Friday Night
The Bootid meteor shower reaches its peak on Friday, June 27, 2025. As twilight fades on Friday, June 27, skywatchers may see 'shooting stars' in the night sky as the Bootid meteor shower reaches its peak. A highly variable display, the exact number visible is unknown and could range from just a few per hour to as many as a hundred, according to the BBC. That is no guarantee of seeing shooting stars, but what it lacks in predictability, it makes up for in convenience, with the best potential views possible as soon as it gets dark. Here's everything you need to know about the peak of the Bootid meteor shower this Friday. Meteor Shower: Where And When to Look The best times to catch the Bootid meteor shower are a couple of hours before dawn and after sunset on June 27. The actual peak of the Bootid meteor shower will take place around 07:00 EDT, so the best displays might be seen before dawn on June 27, according to However, the source constellation — known as its radiant point — is the constellation Boötes the Herdsman, which is at its highest in the sky as day turns to night. As dusk turns to night on June 27, the shower is likely to produce its most impressive displays. The exact location of the radiant point is between the bright star Arcturus — the brightest in Boötes — and the star Alkaid at the end of the handle of the Big Dipper, according to the International Meteor Organization. They'll be easy to find high in the western sky. How to find Arcturus and Bootes in the night sky. Meteor Shower: What You'll See In addition to having two opportunities to view the Bootid meteor shower, its timing is favorable. With a new moon earlier this week, the pre-dawn and post-sunset hours are free from strong moonlight. However, if you head outside before it gets dark — about 45 minutes after sunset — and look to the west-northwest, you'll see a 9%-lit crescent moon with the planet Mercury to its lower right. The cause of the Bootid meteor shower is dust and debris left in the inner solar system by comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, a near-Earth short-period comet that orbits the sun every six years. It will next loop around the sun in August 2027. About 3.2 miles (5.2 kilometers) in diameter, according to NASA, it was first discovered in 1819. Meteor Shower: Observing Tips Since the Bootid meteor shower is so unpredictable, it's best to treat June 27 as merely a great night to go stargazing if the skies are clear, with shooting stars a bonus. A location with an unobstructed view — free from buildings, trees, or hills — is key. You don't need any equipment, just your naked eyes (binoculars or telescopes will significantly reduce your chance of seeing any shooting stars). Sunday, June 29: Moon And Mars In Conjunction What's Next In The Night Sky There's more going on this week than just a meteor shower. After sunset on Saturday, June 28, a 16%-lit crescent moon will be aligned with the bright star Regulus in Leo and the planet Mars. Come back on Sunday, June 29, and you'll see one of the sky highlights of June 2025 — a 24%-lit crescent moon and Mars just a fifth of a degree apart. For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
