The Perseid meteor shower — widely considered the best of the year — will put on its peak performance the nights of August 12 and 13, with up to 50 meteors per hour visible under clear, dark skies.
No telescope? No problem. You don’t need special gear to enjoy this lunar show. Just find a dark spot, let your eyes adjust for about 30 minutes, and look up.
Whether you’re in Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, or Atlanta, the Perseids will be high overhead during the early nighttime hours — and if skies cooperate, you could see dozens of shooting stars.
🌌 When & Where to Watch
The best viewing is between 9:30 and 11:00 p.m. local time, before the waning gibbous moon climbs high enough to wash out the fainter meteors.
Here’s what to keep in mind by region:
- Atlanta: Rural areas just north or east of the metro may offer darker skies.
- Chicago: Try a local forest preserve or a park west of the metro for darker skies.
- Seattle: Look to higher elevations or head east for better viewing away from light pollution.
- Dallas: Head outside the urban core — areas west or north of DFW are good bets.
☁️ Note: Weather conditions will vary. Check your local forecast a day or two before the peak nights to find the clearest skies in your area.
🚀 What Are the Perseids
Perseids are tiny space rocks — often no larger than a puffed grain of rice — that burn up in Earth’s atmosphere at 37 miles per second. That incredible speed creates friction, which transforms into heat and produces the glowing trails we call meteors.
Some even leave behind streaks of color — from soft red and pink to turquoise, yellow, and violet. Occasionally, you might catch a long-lasting trail that glows for several seconds.
🔥 Why They’re So Special… Fireballs!
The Perseids are famous for their fireballs — exceptionally bright meteors that can outshine Venus in the night sky. These are caused by larger space fragments, sometimes the size of a golf ball, burning a bit deeper and brighter in the atmosphere.
The debris responsible for the Perseids comes from Comet Swift-Tuttle, a 16-mile-wide object that last passed near Earth in 1992. Each August, Earth moves through the same dusty trail the comet left behind, creating a reliable burst of meteoric activity.
Think of it like driving through a cloud of bugs that never moves — only instead of windshield splats, you get glowing streaks of light across the sky.
🧭 Tips for the Best Experience
- Get away from bright city lights — dark rural locations offer the best views.
- Let your eyes adjust to the dark for at least 20 minutes.
- No need to focus on a specific part of the sky — meteors can appear anywhere.
- Skip binoculars and telescopes — the naked eye is best.