This year the Perseids peak close to new Moon, which promises excellent viewing conditions.
The Perseids are one of the best meteor showers of the year. Every August, Earth passes through the trail of dust left behind by comet Swift–Tuttle. The tiny particles burn up in the atmosphere and we see them as shooting stars.
Why 2026 is special
The shower peaks in the night of 12–13 August, close to new Moon. Without moonlight, even fainter meteors will be visible from a dark site.
How to watch
- Find a dark place away from city lights.
- Lie down and look at a large part of the sky, not only towards the constellation Perseus.
- Give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adapt to the dark.
- The best time is after midnight, when the radiant is high in the sky.
No telescope or binoculars are needed. More tips can be found in our Night Sky Guide.
Image: The planet, the galaxy and the laser. Credit: ESO/Y. Beletsky. Source, CC BY 4.0.
Comments
In reply to by nebula_ivo
And point the camera about 45 degrees away from the radiant, the meteors have longer trails there.
We saw one huge fireball yesterday already! Is that possible before the peak?
In reply to by Lucie (not verified)
Yes, the Perseids are active from mid-July to late August, the peak is just the night with the most meteors.
Taking my kids for the first time this year. They are more excited than I am.
Is it true that the shower comes from a comet?
In reply to by Tomáš (not verified)
Yes, from comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle. It last came close to the Sun in 1992 and will return in 2126.
Update: clouds all evening, but it cleared up at 2 am. Saw about 30 in an hour. Worth it!
Beat my record: 51 meteors! The dark sky really made a difference this year.
In reply to by aurora_zoe
Congratulations! Did you get any photos?
In reply to by nebula_ivo
A few, one with a bright trail right across the Milky Way.