Perseid meteor shower of 2024: Here’s when it peaks

A show of lights and colors can be seen from above as a meteor shower continues to streak through Earth’s atmosphere.

The Perseid meteor shower, which is known for its fireballs, is “considered the best meteor shower of the year,” according to NASA.

For this year, the shower is predicted to peak on Aug. 12, according to an Earthsky.org article, and the mornings of Aug. 11, 12 and 13, “are probably your best bet for viewing.”

The heaviest meteor showers are expected to brighten up the sky on Aug. 12 since that is when the Earth moves through the largest field of debris from the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle, NASA says on its website.

“The meteors are colorful, and they frequently leave persistent trains,” EarthSky.org reads. “All of these factors make the Perseid shower perhaps the most beloved meteor shower for the Northern Hemisphere.”

The shower is known as Perseid because “the area of the sky where the meteors seem to originate is located near the constellation of Perseus when at maximum activity,” American Meteor Society reports.

The moon will be half illuminated during this year’s peak of the Perseid meteor shower, according to Earthsky.org, and the best time for watching is between midnight and dawn.

Ideal conditions for viewing are under a dark sky with no moon, according to Earthsky.org, as skywatchers report seeing 90 or more meteors per hour.