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 dark-sky conditions expected to improve viewing this year. The agency said the annual 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 through Aug. 24, with the peak on Aug. 12-13. NASA and Sky & Telescope both said the new Moon should leave skies unusually dark during the peak window. ### When should people actually look up? The best viewing window is late on Aug. 12 through pre-dawn on Aug. 13, according to NASA and the American Meteor Society. NASA’s August skywatching guide lists the Perseid peak on Aug. 12-13, and its Watch the Skies post says the shower reaches maximum activity overnight into the early hours of Aug. 13. (nasa.gov) The American Meteor Society’s 2026 calendar gives the same peak nights and says the Moon will be 0% full. That removes one of the biggest obstacles for meteor watching, because moonlight often washes out fainter streaks. Sky & Telescope said this year’s timing should produce moonless skies all night. (nasa.gov) ### How long does the shower last if you miss the peak? NASA said the Perseids began ramping up in early July and will remain active through the end of August. The American Meteor Society gives a slightly tighter window, listing activity through Aug. 24. Both sources indicate that observers who miss the peak can still see meteors on nearby nights, though at lower rates. (amsmeteors.org) Aug. 12-13 remains the main target because meteor counts are typically highest around the peak. NASA describes the Perseids as one of the year’s brightest and most popular showers, and its standing Perseids page calls it the best meteor shower of the year. (nasa.gov) ### What makes the Perseids easier to watch this year? The new Moon on Aug. 12 is the central reason 2026 is drawing attention from skywatching groups. NASA’s monthly guide says the shower will peak under dark skies, and Sky & Telescope said the new Moon should leave the whole night free of moonlight. (nasa.gov) Sky & Telescope said that setup is a major improvement over years when a bright Moon cuts visibility. The American Meteor Society’s calendar also lists the peak night with a 0%-full Moon, reinforcing the expectation of darker observing conditions. ### Where should viewers go, and what should they expect? (science.nasa.gov) Dark locations away from city lights remain the standard advice for meteor watching. NASA’s Perseids material says the shower is best observed under dark skies, where viewers can pick up more of the fainter meteors along with brighter fireballs. NASA’s reference page says observers under dark skies can expect about 25 meteors per hour. (skyandtelescope.org) The Perseids are known for fast meteors and lingering light trails. NASA says the meteors travel about 37 miles per second, and its Perseids page says they frequently leave long wakes of light and color behind them. ### Is there an official way to follow the peak if the weather does not cooperate? (science.nasa.gov) NASA said it will host a Perseids livestream beginning at midnight Eastern time on Aug. 13 on YouTube. The agency said the broadcast will include live sky-camera views, meteor experts and audience questions during the overnight watch party. (science.nasa.gov) Aug. 13 is the key date for the peak, but the broader shower continues afterward. The American Meteor Society lists activity through Aug. 24, and NASA’s August guide places the Perseids among the month’s major sky events alongside the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse and the Aug. 27-28 partial lunar eclipse. (amsmeteors.org) (nasa.gov)