Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug. 13

NASA said on August 5 that the Perseid meteor shower will peak on the night of Aug. 12 into the early morning of Aug. 13, with dark skies expected because a new Moon falls at the same time. Sky & Telescope said the timing should give observers “moonless skies the whole night long,” a setup that usually improves visibility for one of the year’s best-known meteor showers. The Perseids have already been active since early July and will continue through late August, NASA said. For most viewers in the United States, the best plan is to watch late on Aug. 12 and stay out into the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 13 from a dark site away from city lights. ### Why are astronomers focused on the night of Aug. 12 into Aug. 13? NASA’s Watch the Skies blog said the shower reaches its peak on the night of Aug. 12 into the early morning of Aug. 13. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory gave the same timing in its August skywatching update, saying the Perseids will peak “the evening of Aug. 12 into the early morning hours of the 13th.” (nasa.gov) The International Meteor Organization’s 2026 calendar also lists the Perseids as peaking on Aug. 12 or 13, depending on the year, and says 2026 brings moon-free conditions around the maximum. EarthSky said the best viewing window this year should be after midnight through dawn on the mornings of Aug. 12 and 13. ### What makes the 2026 display easier to watch than some other years? (nasa.gov) The new Moon on Aug. 12-13 is the main reason. NASA said visibility “should be ideal” because the Moon phase will keep the skies dark, and Sky & Telescope said observers can expect moonless skies all night during the peak. (imo.net) The International Meteor Organization said the Moon will be about 1% illuminated on the peak night. That matters because moonlight can wash out fainter meteors, leaving only the brightest streaks visible. In 2026, the lack of moonlight should allow more of the shower to show through, especially from rural locations. ### How many meteors might people actually see? (nasa.gov) The International Meteor Organization said normal Perseid rates from rural locations range from about 50 to 75 meteors per hour. Actual counts for any individual observer are usually lower because trees, buildings, light pollution, weather and the position of the radiant all reduce what a single person can see. (imo.net) NASA describes the Perseids as one of the brightest and most popular meteor showers of the year, and its general Perseids page calls it the best meteor shower of the year. Sky & Telescope said the shower is known for bright meteors and occasional fireballs. ### Where do the Perseids come from? (imo.net) NASA’s JPL said the Perseids occur each year when Earth passes through a debris stream left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. As those small bits of comet material hit Earth’s atmosphere, they heat up and burn, creating the streaks of light seen from the ground. EarthSky said the shower appears to radiate from the constellation Perseus, which is where the Perseids get their name. (nasa.gov) Viewers do not need to stare directly at Perseus to catch meteors, but the radiant rises higher as the night goes on, which is one reason rates tend to improve after midnight. (jpl.nasa.gov) ### What is the simplest viewing plan? Sky & Telescope said a dark location will offer the best chance of seeing the shower, and EarthSky said the late-night hours deepening toward dawn are usually best. NASA’s August skywatching page also points viewers to the Aug. 12-13 peak under dark skies. NASA said it will livestream a meteor watch party on YouTube starting at midnight Eastern on Aug. 13, with meteor experts and live sky-camera views. (earthsky.org) For people who cannot get outside or who face clouds, that stream is the next scheduled public viewing event tied to the peak. (nasa.gov) (skyandtelescope.org)