The 2026 Perseids are active from tonight, and they are heading toward their brightest night overnight on Aug. 12-13. Under the dark skies of the new moon, skywatchers may see up to 100 shooting stars an hour at the shower’s peak.
That timing matters because many people look for the shower after dark in the days before the peak, and viewers in the U.S. can start spotting Perseid meteors anytime after 10 p.m. The best show usually comes in the hours before dawn, when the radiant near Eta Persei in Perseus climbs higher and the meteors become easier to pick out against the sky.
The Meteor Society says this year should look stronger than last year, when moonlight drowned out all but the brightest shooting stars. This time, the new moon leaves the sky much darker, which gives the shower a better chance to show its full range, from quick streaks to vivid green fireballs when larger bits of debris burn through Earth’s atmosphere at up to 37 miles per second, or 59 kilometers per second.
There is one brief catch. A Perseid could appear during the eclipse’s false twilight, but the odds are not stacked in favor of seeing one in that moment. The better bet is to get away from city lights, wait at least 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust and watch the sky steadily rather than expecting a single lucky flash.
The next clear date on the calendar is Aug. 12-13, when the Perseids should reach their peak under dark moonless skies. For anyone who wants the shower at its best, that is the night to circle.
