Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug. 13

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 a new moon expected to keep the sky dark for observers. Sky & Telescope said the timing should produce moonless skies through the night, improving the chances of seeing fainter meteors. WTHR said the exact peak arrives at about 10:53 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 13, which is daylight in the United States, so the practical viewing windows fall before dawn. The Perseids have been active since early July and will continue through the end of August, according to NASA. ### Why are astronomers calling this a good year to watch? Sky & Telescope said 2026 lines up unusually well because the shower’s peak comes under moonless skies for the whole night. That matters because moonlight can wash out dimmer meteors, leaving only the brightest streaks visible. (nasa.gov) NASA also said a new moon arrives on Aug. 12, creating “ideally dark” conditions for the peak later that night. In a separate August skywatching update, NASA said those dark skies should make the display easier to see without specialized equipment. ### When should people in the United States actually go outside? (people.com) WTHR said the best chances come in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, Aug. 12, and Thursday, Aug. 13, because the mathematical peak happens after sunrise for U.S. viewers. The station said the shower builds gradually and then falls off quickly after the peak, making those two mornings the key window. (nasa.gov) NASA said the best time on peak night is after midnight and before dawn, when the sky is darkest and Earth is turning into the stream of debris that causes the meteors. That schedule broadly matches NASA’s August skywatching guidance, which places the peak in the evening of Aug. 12 into the early hours of Aug. 13. (wthr.com) ### What causes the Perseids every year? NASA said the Perseids occur when Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. Those bits of comet material hit Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and burn up, producing the bright streaks commonly called shooting stars. (nasa.gov) NASA described the Perseids as one of the year’s brightest and most popular meteor showers. The agency said the shower has been ramping up since early July and will continue sparkling through the end of August. ### Do you need a telescope or a specific direction? (science.nasa.gov) NASA said observers do not need binoculars or a telescope to watch the shower. Meteor showers are best seen with the naked eye because the streaks can appear across wide sections of the sky rather than in one fixed spot. (nasa.gov) WTHR said the best viewing on any night is between midnight and dawn, and dark locations away from city lights will improve visibility. NASA’s guidance similarly points people to open skies and patience rather than equipment. (nasa.gov) ### What should people watch for after Aug. 13? NASA said the Perseids will remain active through the end of August even after the peak passes. That means observers may still catch meteors later in the month, though WTHR said activity drops sharply once the peak window has passed. (wthr.com) Aug. 12 into Aug. 13 remains the main date to plan around. NASA’s Watch the Skies post and WTHR’s timing guidance both point to those overnight hours as the clearest opportunity for U.S. observers in 2026. (nasa.gov)