Perseids peak Aug. 12–13, 2026

NASA said on Aug. 5 that the Perseid meteor shower will peak on the night of Aug. 12 into the early morning of Aug. 13, with one of the year’s best-known sky shows arriving under unusually dark skies. The agency said the shower has been active since early July and will continue through the end of August. The American Meteor Society separately lists the Perseids as active from July 17 to Aug. 24, with the peak on Aug. 12-13 and a 0% moon. ### When should people actually go outside? NASA said the strongest viewing should come late on Aug. 12 and into the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 13, when the shower reaches peak activity. EarthSky said the best time to watch in 2026 is after midnight through dawn on the mornings of Aug. 12 and 13, adding that Perseid rates usually build as the night deepens. (nasa.gov) WTHR said the timing matters because 2026’s peak coincides with a new moon, reducing moonlight that can wash out fainter meteors. The station said that alignment could make this year’s display the best in 19 years. ### Why are astronomers focusing on the moon this year? (nasa.gov) The American Meteor Society’s 2026 calendar lists the Perseids with a moon value of 0% at peak, and NASA said the new moon should make for “great viewing conditions.” EarthSky also said viewers will have dark skies during the peak, a factor that can make weaker streaks easier to spot. (wthr.com) NASA’s broader August skywatching guide also flagged the Perseids as one of the month’s headline events, alongside a solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse. That places the shower in a busier-than-usual August sky calendar, but the meteor shower’s peak still falls squarely in the Aug. 12-13 window. ### What are people seeing when a Perseid flashes overhead? (nasa.gov) NASA’s Perseids page says the shower comes from debris left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle as Earth passes through the comet’s trail each year. The American Meteor Society says meteor showers are named for the constellation from which they appear to radiate, and the Perseids seem to originate from Perseus. (science.nasa.gov) EarthSky said Perseid meteors are known for being fast and bright, which is one reason the shower has become one of the most watched annual events in the Northern Hemisphere. NASA called the Perseids one of the year’s brightest and most popular meteor showers. ### Where should viewers look, and what helps? WTHR said viewers should look to the northeast, where Perseus rises, though meteors can appear across the sky. (science.nasa.gov) NASA’s guidance is simpler: find a dark location away from bright city lights, allow time for your eyes to adjust, and look up without needing a telescope or binoculars. (earthsky.org) EarthSky said wide, unobstructed views help because the meteors can streak far from the radiant point. The practical effect is that viewers do not need to stare directly at Perseus to catch the shower at its best. ### How long does the shower last if clouds ruin the peak? NASA said the Perseids remain active through the end of August, and the American Meteor Society lists activity through Aug. 24. (wthr.com) EarthSky said Aug. 14 may still offer worthwhile viewing, though meteor counts usually drop off quickly after the peak. Aug. 12 and Aug. 13 remain the dates to watch, with NASA’s “Watch the Skies” post and the American Meteor Society’s 2026 calendar providing the main public guidance ahead of the peak. (earthsky.org) (nasa.gov)