Perseids 2024: When And Where To Look For The Meteor Shower
If you don’t want to miss one of the most well-known astronomical events, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some tips on how the Perseids can be seen and the best dates to look at the spectacular event. Let’s begin!
Contents
- What causes the Perseid meteor shower?
- Where to look for the Perseid meteor shower?
- When is the Perseid meteor shower?
- How to see the Perseid meteor shower?
- Perseids 2024: key points
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.
Where to look for the Perseid meteor shower?
When a meteor shower is active, the “shooting stars” appear to stream out of a certain location in the sky, which is called the radiant. The radiant point for the Perseid meteor shower is in the constellation Perseus, near the star Miram (mag. 3.8). You can find it in the sky with the help of Star Walk 2 and Sky Tonight stargazing apps. 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.
You can also use the nearby constellation Cassiopeia as a waymark to the Perseids’ radiant point. Perseus is located near Cassiopeia and its prominent W-shaped asterism, which immediately catches the eye in the dark sky.
Where to see the Perseid meteor shower 2024?
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 2024, 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 2024
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 2024, the highest number of meteors is expected on August 12, from 13:00 to 16:00 GMT. On the same day, a First Quarter Moon occurs, but the 46%-illuminated lunar disk won’t pose a problem as it sets around midnight, giving us plenty of time under the dark sky.
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 2024 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:
- Start looking for meteors at midnight, after the moonset.
- 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!
Perseids 2024: key points
The Perseids are one of the strongest meteor showers of the year, as their maximum activity is about 100 meteors per hour. In 2024, they will be active from July 17 to August 24. The peak is expected on August 12 and will coincide with the First Quarter Moon, which will set around midnight and won’t hinder the view.
