NASA: Perseids active since early July

NASA said on Aug. 5 that the Perseid meteor shower has been active since early July and will remain visible through the end of August, giving skywatchers several more weeks to look for meteors. The agency described the Perseids as one of the year’s brightest and most popular meteor showers and said the peak is expected on the night of Aug. 12 into the early morning of Aug. 13. (nasa.gov) NASA also said viewing conditions should be unusually favorable this year because a new Moon will keep the sky dark. The Perseids return every August as Earth passes through debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, according to NASA. (nasa.gov) Those particles burn up in Earth’s atmosphere and create the fast, bright streaks associated with the shower. NASA’s Perseids reference page says the shower is known for swift meteors and frequent lingering wakes of light and color. ### Why is NASA talking about the Perseids now? NASA published its latest Perseids watch notice on Aug. 5 as the shower moved into its strongest viewing window. The agency said activity has been building since early July and will continue through Aug. 31. (nasa.gov) Sky & Telescope also said on Aug. 5 that 2026 should offer “moonless skies the whole night long,” describing the timing as especially favorable for observers. The International Meteor Organization’s 2026 calendar likewise says the Perseids will peak under moon-free conditions this year. (science.nasa.gov) ### When should people actually go outside to watch? NASA said the peak will come on the night of Aug. 12 into the early morning of Aug. 13. The agency’s August skywatching update repeated that timing and said the new Moon on Aug. 12 should leave skies ideally dark. (nasa.gov) WTHR reported that the exact peak arrives around 10:53 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 13, which is daylight in the United States, making the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 12 and Aug. 13 the best viewing windows. The station said activity falls off quickly after peak. (skyandtelescope.org) ### What makes the Perseids different from other showers? NASA’s meteor page calls the Perseids the best meteor shower of the year and says they peak in mid-August with bright, fast meteors. The agency says Perseids frequently leave long wakes of light and color behind them as they cross the atmosphere at about 37 miles per second. (nasa.gov) The International Meteor Organization says the Perseids are the most popular meteor shower because they peak on warm August nights in the Northern Hemisphere. Its calendar lists the shower as active from July 17 to Aug. 24, a narrower technical activity window than NASA’s public-facing watch page, which says observers can look through the end of August. (wthr.com) ### Where should viewers look, and what should they bring? NASA said viewers do not need telescopes or binoculars because wide, dark views of the sky work best for meteor watching. The agency advises people to get away from bright city lights, allow about 30 minutes for their eyes to adjust, and look generally upward rather than fixing on one point. (science.nasa.gov) The Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, but meteors can show up across the sky, according to NASA. That is why the agency recommends finding a safe, dark spot with as much open sky as possible. (imo.net) ### What is NASA doing during the peak night? NASA said it will livestream a meteor watch party starting at midnight Eastern on Aug. 13 on YouTube. The agency said the program will include meteor experts, live sky-camera views and audience questions throughout the night. (nasa.gov) NASA’s Watch the Skies page says the Perseids remain visible through Aug. 31, and the agency’s public guidance for the 2026 shower is posted there for viewers planning around the Aug. 12-13 peak. (nasa.gov)