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The Perseid meteors are bright, numerous, and dependable.
A very good year for bright, frequent meteors thanks to an early‑setting crescent Moon
It’s a very good year for the famous Perseid meteor shower. The shower peaks from late evening on August 12 through dawn on August 13, 2026, and a thin crescent Moon sets early enough to leave the sky dark for the best viewing after midnight. Under those conditions, the Perseids often deliver bright, frequent meteors — the reason they’re the most beloved meteor shower of the year.
What Are the Perseids?
The Perseids are one of the most popular annual meteor showers. These shooting stars shine when Earth crosses the orbit of a comet. In the case of the Perseids, we pass through a long trail of dust left behind by the comet Swift‑Tuttle—a trail that has been drifting in space for thousands of years.
Every August, Earth moves through this same debris stream, and those tiny particles hit our atmosphere and burn up as fast, bright meteors. Many Perseids leave long, glowing trains, and some fragment as they fall. You might even catch an exceptionally bright fireball or a meteor that briefly flashes like a strobe, known as a bolide. See more facts about meteor showers.
When to Watch
The Perseid meteor shower occurs every year from about July 23 to August 22, but the peak comes late on August 12 into the predawn hours of Thursday, August 13.
The best time to watch is always late at night into the predawn hours. Fortunately, in 2026, the Moon sets early—around 8:30 to 9:00 PM in much of the U.S.—which means the sky is fully dark by the time the Perseids appear! Check your local moonrise times to fine‑tune your viewing.
Where to Look
We get this question often, but it’s an easy answer. You can always watch the Perseids from anywhere in the world—just find a dark spot and look up. Meteors can appear in any part of the sky.
If you enjoy sky maps, it helps to know that the shower is named for the constellation Perseus, its radiant, or point of origin. Perseid meteors will appear to stream outward from this region of the sky, so locating Perseus can help you catch even more.
5 Viewing Tips for Shooting Stars
1. Find dark skies
Dark skies away from city lights will always give you the best view. Any hill out in the countryside works. Mountaintops are also excellent because they sit above much of the haze and light pollution. Plan a drive or a camping trip if you can.
2. Give your eyes time to adjust
You’ll need about 20 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darker skies, so arrive early and be patient.
3. Look at the darkest part of the sky
Gaze toward whatever part of the sky is darkest at your location. Though it’s tempting, avoid binoculars or a telescope — it’s better to see the whole sky than a tiny slice of it. Your eyes will naturally catch motion overhead. Avoid looking at your phone or other bright lights, as this will ruin your night vision.
4. Get comfortable
Comfort matters. To avoid a stiff neck, bring a chaise lounge or reclining lawn chair. A sleeping bag on the ground works, too. If possible, find a slight incline so your head is higher than your feet. Bring an extra layer; when you’re sitting still outside at night, your body heat radiates straight into the sky.
5. If the Moon is up, look away from it
While the shower is best when moonlight is absent, you can still watch for shooting stars if the Moon is around. Just face away from it. Its glow affects the whole sky, but the glare is strongest closest to the Moon.
Worried about a meteor hitting Earth while you’re watching? Here’s why you shouldn’t be worried.
History of the Perseids & Comet Swift-Tuttle
The Perseids are the legacy of Comet Swift-Tuttle, discovered in 1862 by Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle. The comet passes through the inner Solar System only once every 133 years. Each August, Earth encounters the trail of debris Swift‑Tuttle has shed over thousands of years, and we’re treated to one of the best meteor showers of the year.
The number of meteors we see depends on where Swift‑Tuttle is in its orbit when Earth crosses its path. When the comet is far away, the shower can be sparse—as low as four meteors per hour in the early 20th century. When Swift‑Tuttle was very close to Earth in 1993, the peak rate soared to between 200 and 500 meteors per hour.
The first known record of the Perseids comes from a Chinese manuscript written in A.D. 36. The Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli linked the Perseid shower to Comet Swift-Tuttle in 1866, four years after the comet’s modern discovery.
Mark Your Calendars
If August 11 or 12 is cloudy, you’ll get another chance later in the year. The Geminid meteor shower will be at its very best in December 2026.
See a schedule of all major meteor showers on our Meteor Shower Calendar page.
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