The Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak overnight Wednesday, August 12, into the predawn hours of Thursday, August 13 - and astronomers say this year's timing couldn't be better.
A new moon falls just one day before the peak, leaving skies almost completely dark with no moonlight to wash out fainter meteors. Under those conditions, the Perseids can produce up to 100 meteors an hour, among the best rates of any shower all year.
Here's the hour-by-hour breakdown:
- 10 p.m. to midnight: The Moon has already set by this point, so skies are dark early. Meteors will be visible, though at a lower rate - a good window for families or anyone who can't stay up late.
- Midnight to dawn: This is peak viewing. As Earth rotates directly into the densest part of the debris stream, rates climb toward their highest, with the very best activity between about 2 and 4 a.m. local time.
No telescope or binoculars are needed - just a dark, open patch of sky away from city lights, and about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust.
For anyone near the path of the total solar eclipse crossing Greenland, Iceland, and Spain that same day, August 12 offers something rare: a darkened sun in the afternoon followed by a meteor-streaked sky after dark - a same-day double feature that won't repeat anytime soon.
Whether it's one bright fireball or a whole night of them, there's something about lying back under a meteor shower that has a way of turning eyes - and hearts - upward.
Related Article: When to See August's Meteor Showers: Dates, Times, and Best Viewing Spots
