The Perseid meteor shower lights up the night sky

The 2024 Perseid meteor shower, which peaks on the night of August 11, promises an impressive display, although visibility may be slightly limited by the waxing moon.

Ideal viewing conditions include dark, clear skies away from city lights, and the shower is best enjoyed by attending a local party, staying warm and being patient. Useful resources from NASA and other astronomy sites offer tips and tools for tracking the shower’s peak.

2024 Perseid meteor shower

Are you ready for Perseids 2024? They are expected to peak on the night of August 11 into the morning of the 12th, with good visibility the nights before and after. You may have already spotted a few Perseids streaking across the summer sky!

This shower, part of Comet Swift-Tuttle’s debris stream, actually begins in mid-to-late July and lasts through most of August. While most of these nights only show off a few meteors every hour, the Perseid peak brings many, many more. How much more? The number actually changes every year; there may be only a few dozen per hour, but some rare years bring a short “burst” of up to two hundred beautiful “shooting stars” per hour.

Display and timing conditions

This year’s Perseids will be slightly affected by the waxing Moon at 53%, but the Moon will set as the Perseids begin to peak! This means that if you are in an area with no light pollution and enjoy clear skies, you can see quite a few meteors during the night! How many will you be able to see? There’s only one way to find out for yourself how strong the Perseids will be this year: go out and patiently watch!

Tips to improve your viewing experience

Here are some tips to get the most out of your meteor shower viewing experience:

• Get out of town! Try to get to the darkest place possible. The darker the location you are, the more meteors you will see streaking across the sky.
• Check the weather forecast for tonight. You may need to check two or three areas for fog, cloud and temperature forecasts. Some weather websites even offer forecasts specifically tailored to watch the sky. Make sure you have clear skies along with the dark ones.
• Find a meteor shower party! Go to a gathering of like-minded people at your local park or an event hosted by your local astronomy club – especially if it’s your first time! Find a Perseids party by searching for clubs near you on the Night Sky Network or searching for events near you

• Stay warm and comfortable outside – be prepared! You’ll be out for a long time and you’ll want to lay on your back to soak up as much of the sky as possible. To stay comfortable, bring a blanket, jacket, hat, warm drink and water. You might think it’s silly to wear warm clothes in the middle of summer, but late at night the temperature can drop just enough to feel chilly. If you’re in an area with strollers, you’ll want to use bug spray to avoid pesky bites
• Bring your friends and family! The company under the starry sky is amazing and provides a bonus because there are more eyes in the sky! Groups can spot more meteors than individuals and help each other find “hot spots” in the sky. (Also – if you’re in the dark in the wilderness, good company will help you feel safer.)

Additional resources and information

For more information on one of our favorite meteor showers, check out NASA’s Perseid page and EarthSky’s excellent sighting guide. You should also check it out JPLAugust 2023 “What’s going on? video (embedded above) of Preston Dyches offering great tips on how to watch the Perseids and other objects you can look for in the night sky while you wait for those brilliant streaks. You can also use NASA’s “Fluximator” app for meteor shower activity to try to predict when the activity will be at its peak in your location. We also have a flyer for you to use at your star parties and information events: Attention! It’s a meteor shower resource page.

Have fun and may you have clear skies and great weather for a meteor shower party!