Perseid Meteor Shower 2025: When & How To See It
The Perseid meteor shower is active from July 17 to August 24 and reaches its maximum on August 12. Although the Moon will be shining brightly that night, we've got a few tricks to keep it from spoiling the fun. Use Sky Tonight or Star Walk 2 to see when it’s best to start observations in your location. Also, read this guide to learn how to observe the Perseids in 2025.
Contents
- Where to look for the Perseid meteor shower?
- When is the Perseid meteor shower?
- How to see the Perseid meteor shower?
- What causes the Perseid meteor shower?
- The legend behind the Perseids: fiery tears of St Lawrence
- Perseids 2025: all you need to know
Where to look for the Perseid meteor shower?
The Perseid meteors will be visible anywhere in the sky, but their path will be traced back to the constellation Perseus – that’s why they are called the Perseids. Within the constellation, there is a certain point where the meteors seem to come from. This point is called the radiant. The higher the radiant rises, the more meteors you see. To catch as many “shooting stars” as possible, target your observations around the time when the radiant is high in the sky. Star Walk 2 and Sky Tonight apps will help you plan your best meteor-hunting night. They both have easy-to-use search systems, which allow you to enter the meteor shower’s name and see the current position of the radiant in the sky above you. Watch our video tutorials on Star Walk 2 and Sky Tonight and learn more about their useful features.
Best place to watch the Perseid meteor shower
The Perseids are best observed at mid-northern latitudes. There, the meteor shower’s radiant rises high in the sky around 22:30 local time. Unfortunately, the Perseid shower cannot be properly seen from most parts of the Southern Hemisphere or latitudes north of approximately 60°N.
When is the Perseid meteor shower?
The Perseids occur every year between mid-July and late August. In 2025, the Perseid meteor shower is active from July 17 to August 24. You can observe it on any day within that time frame. The maximum number of meteors will be seen on August 12, when the shower will reach its peak.
Best time to see the Perseid meteor shower 2025
At its peak, the Perseids produce about 100 meteors per hour and are considered to be one of the most prolific meteor streams. According to the International Meteor Organization, in 2025, the highest number of meteors is expected on August 12, at 13:15 GMT (also, on August 12, after 04:00 GMT, the Earth is predicted to encounter an old dust trail, which might enhance the number of meteors). Unfortunately, this event occurs three days after the Full Moon, so the 90%-illuminated lunar disc will be lighting up the sky all night, washing out fainter meteors. To reduce this effect, try to block out the moonlight by staying in the shadow of a tall building, a tree, or a mountain. If possible, plan your observations for the predawn hours, as the sky may be darker. You can also try observing after the peak night when the meteor shower will still be active, but the moonlight won’t be so intense.
Astronomical apps won’t let you miss the best time to see the Perseids. For example, Sky Tonight has a special calendar that shows the activity period and peak for every meteor shower (you can learn how to use the calendar and set reminders in our video). Star Walk 2 has a list of meteor showers sorted by month and can also remind you of the upcoming celestial events. Watch our video tutorial on how to plan your meteor-hunting night with Star Walk 2.
How to see the Perseid meteor shower?
We’ve gathered some tips to help you catch the best view of the meteors. With the proper preparation, the Perseids 2025 will bring you an unforgettable stargazing experience. Also, use our infographic on meteor showers as a quick reference: there, you’ll find these tips in the form of colorful illustrations.
Dos:
- Hide from the Moon: find a spot with tall obstacles (mountains, buildings, trees, etc.) to block the moonlight. This makes the night darker, helping you see more meteors.
- Find out the radiant’s position in the skies; the higher it climbs, the more meteors you’ll likely see. The radiant is easy to find with the help of Star Walk 2 and Sky Tonight apps.
- Find an open place with a dark sky, away from the city lights: there are ten times fewer meteors visible in the city. An even better option would be to go up in the mountains, where haze and clouds are below the observer.
- Give this breathtaking event at least an hour of your time to see as many meteors as possible.
- Bring a deck chair or a camp cot to lie on. You can also use a mat, but your head needs to be raised so that the blood doesn’t rush there. Otherwise, you’ll start to feel sleepy very soon.
Don'ts:
- Don’t look directly at the radiant, as there will be mostly short meteors.
- Don’t look low above the horizon either — there might be haze or clouds.
- Don’t make a fire or turn on bright flashlights. The bright light won’t allow your eyes to adapt to the darkness, so you won’t be able to see a significant part of the meteors. Better bring a flashlight with a red light instead — this light is more comfortable at night.
- Don’t gaze up for 1 hour straight; make 5-10 minute breaks. This way, you’ll be able to stay focused and give your eyes a rest.
Do you want even more useful meteor-hunting tips? Take our quiz and learn how to spot shooting stars like a pro!
What causes the Perseid meteor shower?
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through a trail of debris left by a comet or asteroid (in some special cases). Each meteor shower has a parent body; for the Perseids, it is the large periodic comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Although it approaches our planet only once every 133 years, we observe the Perseids annually because the Earth crosses the comet’s trail every year.
Will comet Swift-Tuttle hit the Earth?
The last time comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle passed near the Earth was in 1992, and it is predicted to return in 2126. An astronomer who was calculating its orbit once proposed that it might potentially collide with our planet in 2126. However, subsequent refinements have indicated that the comet will not pose a threat.
Do Perseid meteors hit the Earth?
The Perseid meteors are basically cometary debris: tiny particles of dust and ice. They are fragile and disintegrate upon entering the atmosphere. Almost none of them reach the ground, but if one does, it's called a meteorite.
The legend behind the Perseids: fiery tears of St Lawrence
The Perseids’ peak closely coincides with the feast day of Saint Lawrence, a Christian martyr who was executed on August 10, 258 AD. Lawrence was said to have been roasted alive on a gridiron, which is why he is often depicted in art holding a gridiron or being shown in flames. Legend has it that during his execution, he displayed remarkable courage and composure, even telling his executioners to turn him over, as he was done on one side. To this day, in some Catholic traditions, Perseids’ meteors are known as “the tears of St Lawrence”.
Perseids 2025: all you need to know
Here’s a brief recap of the most important details about the Perseid meteor shower in 2025:
- Activity period: July 17 - August 24
- Peak: August 12, 13:15 GMT
- Best time to watch: on the nights of August 11-12 (for time zones west of GMT) and August 12-13 (for time zones east of GMT), in the pre-dawn hours
- Best seen from: mid-northern latitudes
- Expected meteors at peak: 100 meteors per hour (you'll actually see a lot less because of the moonlight)
- Moon phase: Waning Gibbous (90%-illuminated)
Download Star Walk 2 or Sky Tonight to get an interactive sky map and handy astronomical calendar rolled into one. Also, check our social media for some extra stargazing content. Wish you clear skies and good meteor hunting!
