Home / Editor's Pick /

Annual astro highlight: Perseid Meteor Shower to peak tonight

09:00 PM
August 12, 2023

Annual astro highlight
Perseid Meteor Shower to peak tonight

Shooting starA shooting star from the Perseids spotted in Harzgerode, Germany earlier this week. - © Torsten Brehme

One of the year's most active meteor showers is set to peak tonight, and with a new moon approaching soon, the night sky will be perfect for spotting shooting stars.

The Perseid Meteor Shower can produce up to 100 meteors an hour on particularly active years. We are set to see the peak overnight. While they will be visible from sunset, the best hours arrive between midnight and 05:30 a.m.

The radiant will appear from the Perseus constellation. After midnight, the Earth will have rotated to face the shower offering the most and brightest shooting stars.

Tips for stargazing

For the best chance to see a meteor, find a dark area away from light pollution. Ideally in the countryside away from towns.

Specks of dust create the show

The nocturnal celestial spectacle is caused by the dust plume of the Comet Swift-Tuttle, which passes the earth every year in August.

When the dust particles, which are only millimeters in size, hit the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 37 miles per second, they are abruptly slowed down and heated to white heat.

The particles then burn up in fractions of a second and paint their luminous trail on the night sky.

This constellation can be seen after dark in the northeast sky. The constellation Cassiopeia above Perseus helps with orientation. However, the shooting stars can also spread all over the sky.

Weather & Radar USA editorial team
More on the topic
Stonehenge during the June 2020 summer solstice.
Friday, June 20, 2025

Longest day of the year

Today marks the summer solstice
Waterspouts weatherradar.
Monday, May 26, 2025

They can be dangerous

Waterspouts possible, what are they?
Summer brings the heat and the water activities with it!
Monday, June 2, 2025

Bye, spring!

Meteorological summer is here!
All weather news
This might also interest you
Monday, July 14, 2025

Spots with +7'' of rain

Flash flood risk for parts of Florida
Monday, July 14, 2025

Daily briefing

Heavy Northeast rains, stormy Texas thru Ozarks
Drink plenty of water
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Top & silent killer

9 tips to stay safe from the heat
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement