The Perseid Meteor Shower Begins Today: When To Watch

Forbes Published Jul 17, 2026 Reviewed Jul 17, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

The Perseid meteor shower is active from July 17 through August 24 and peaks on the night of August 12–13.

According to the American Meteor Society, Perseid meteors burn up in Earth’s atmosphere at around 37 miles per second (59 km/s).

Under ideal dark-sky conditions during the 2026 peak, observers could see between 60 and 100 meteors per hour, according to Dr. Nick Moskovitz of Lowell Observatory.

Dr. Nick Moskovitz of Lowell Observatory stated that the 2026 Perseid peak could produce about 100 meteors per hour, which is about 10 times above the normal static background rate.

During the 2026 total solar eclipse, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador will see 53% of the sun covered, Halifax 31%, Saint John 28%, Québec City 24%, Boston 16% and New York 10%.

Venus will reach 50%-lit and enter its crescent phase on the night of the 2026 Perseid peak, making it a good target for small telescopes.

The annual Perseid meteor shower — one of 2026’s celestial highlights — officially begins today, kicking off one of the most anticipated astronomical events of the year. Active from July 17 through August 24, the Perseids are renowned for producing bright, fast-moving meteors and spectacular fireballs as Earth passes through debris left behind in the inner solar system by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. While meteors will be visible throughout the coming weeks, all eyes will be on the night of August 12-13, when the shower reaches its peak under what astronomers say could be near-perfect viewing conditions.

The Perseids are active from July 17 through August 24, but the shower reaches its peak on the night of August 12–13.

The meteors are created by tiny fragments left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which burn up in Earth’s atmosphere at around 37 miles per second (59 km/s), according to the American Meteor Society.

With a new moon during the 2026 peak, astronomers expect one of the best Perseid displays in years, with up to 100 meteors per hour possible under dark skies.

The Perseids will peak just hours after a total solar eclipse visible from Greenland, Iceland and Spain, while a partial solar eclipse will be visible across Western Europe and much of North America — including parts of the U.S. and Canada.

For the best places to see it, find a location that looks dark on a light pollution map or find a Dark Sky Place (U.S./global), a Dark Sky Preserve (Canada), a Starlight Destination (global) or a Dark Sky Discovery Site (U.K.).

The Perseids are among the most dependable meteor showers of the year. For 2026, the timing is perfect, with a new moon ensuring exceptionally dark skies during the peak. “It happens in the middle of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, so it’s warm and it’s nice to sit outside, as opposed to the Geminids during mid-December,” said Dr. Nick Moskovitz at Lowell Observatory in an interview. “It’s a nice activity to do near the end of the summer — and it’s an incredibly reliable shower.”

Under ideal dark-sky conditions, observers could see between 60 and 100 meteors per hour, with activity increasing after midnight and peaking before dawn. “We expect that to be the case this year, with something like 100 meteors per hour, which is a healthy amount, and about 10 times above the normal static background that you would get on any other night,” said Moskovitz. The Perseids also signal the beginning of one of astronomy’s busiest periods. “It’s also the start of meteor-shower season, which begins with the Perseids and then goes through various other showers, including the Geminids in December.”

The best viewing will be after midnight through the hours before dawn on Aug. 13, when the constellation Perseus rises higher into the northeastern sky. Although the meteors appear to radiate from Perseus, they can streak across any part of the sky, so a wide, unobstructed view is ideal. For the best experience, head to a location away from city lights, allow your eyes around 20 to 30 minutes to adapt to the darkness, and leave telescopes and binoculars behind — the Perseids can only be enjoyed with the naked eye.

Although the total solar eclipse will be total only from Greenland, Iceland and Spain, Europe and North America will still get a partial eclipse. The best views from North America will be in eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador will see 53% of the sun covered, Halifax 31%, Saint John 28%, Québec City 24%, Boston 16% and New York 10%. Anyone viewing the partial phases must wear ISO 12312-2-compliant eclipse glasses. Cameras, binoculars and telescopes require securely fitted solar filters on the front of their optics. Skywatchers relaxing between observing the solar eclipse and the Presides will be able to look for very bright Venus, which will reach 50%-lit and enter its crescent phase as it comes closer to Earth, making it a great target for a small telescope. It’s also an ideal night to look for the Milky Way in the south.

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