The Perseid meteor shower will peak locally around southwest Washington on the night of August 12 into the predawn hours of August 13. Because the peak aligns with a New Moon, viewing conditions will be excellent, allowing you to see up to 50–100 shooting stars per hour.

Currently active: Active from July 17th to August 24th, 2026

The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the northern hemisphere. The Perseids are active from July 17 to August 24. They reach a strong maximum on August 12 or 13, depending on the year. Normal hourly rates seen from rural locations range from 30-50 shower members per hour at maximum. The Perseids are particles released from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle during its numerous returns to the inner solar system. They are called Perseids since the radiant (the area of the sky where the meteors seem to originate) is located near the prominent constellation of Perseus the hero. When at maximum activity. In 2026, the moon is new on August 12 so conditions are optimum for viewing this shower.

This information is sourced from the American Meteor Society. Learn more about this and other meteor showers at https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar

(Photo source: Bill Ingels, NASA via AP)