The Perseid meteor shower is one of the highlights of the astronomical calendar, appearing each year during July and August as Earth passes through a trail of debris left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

In 2026, the Perseids are active between 17 July and 24 August, reaching their peak overnight on 12–13 August.

And this year, conditions are particularly favourable. The peak coincides with a New Moon, meaning there will be very little moonlight to interfere with the view. From a dark location with clear skies, observers could see dozens of meteors an hour, with some estimates suggesting considerably higher rates under ideal conditions.

Despite their name, ‘shooting stars’ aren't stars at all. Meteors are caused by tiny pieces of dust and rock entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds. As they travel through the atmosphere, the air around them heats up, creating the bright streak of light we see from the ground.

The Perseids get their name from the constellation Perseus, because the meteors appear to radiate from a point in this part of the sky. This is an effect of perspective: the particles themselves are travelling along roughly parallel paths.

How to see the Perseids

You don't need a telescope or binoculars to watch a meteor shower – in fact, the naked eye is best because it allows you to take in as much of the sky as possible.

For the best chance of spotting a Perseid:

• find somewhere dark, away from streetlights and other artificial light
• choose a spot with a wide, unobstructed view of the sky
• give your eyes around 20–30 minutes to adjust to the darkness
• look up and be patient – meteors can appear anywhere across the sky.

The later it gets, the higher Perseus rises in the sky and generally the more meteors become visible, making the hours after midnight and before dawn particularly good for viewing.

With dark skies provided by the New Moon, 2026 should be an excellent year to look out for the Perseids – as long as the British weather cooperates.

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