The Perseid meteor shower brings dozens of shooting stars and fireballs to your skies this August.
The Perseid meteor shower is considered the most dramatic celestial event of the year, and it is upon us! Skywatchers all over the world are ditching the brilliant city lights and heading to dim, low-pollution, and rural locations to watch the long wakes of color and lights in the sky as the Perseids pierce the sky at the rate of 50 to 100 meteors per hour!
To observe the Perseid meteor shower in 2024, the ideal period is between August 11 and August 13. As there will be some very large cometary material particles, you may also observe fireballs, which are larger and more luminous than ordinary meteors. Furthermore, August will feature the first Full Blue Moon of the year, which will be a supermoon. There will also come excellent opportunities to witness the northern lights in locations such as Alaska and Iceland – the most dramatic astronomical extravaganza seen in decades!
Watch The Perseid Meteor Shower Around The World
The best time to watch the Perseids in 2024 falls between 11 August and 13 August 2024. The meteor shower will reach its climax on the night of 12th August and the early hours on 13th August. It’s going to be an important time for stargazers, and here are the best spots to watch the shooting stars in different cities of the world.
Abu Dhabi, UAE: The Perseid meteor shower will happen in Abu Dhabi from August 11 to August 13, 2024. Catch the peak activity between the night of August 12 and the early hours of August 13, preferably on dark skies such as those above Al Quaa Milky Way Spot.
Chicago, USA: The Perseid meteor shower will be active from August 11 to August 13, 2024 in Chicago. From the night of August 12 to dawn on August 13, head over to the Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm for the best views.
Dubai, UAE: The Perseid meteor shower will dazzle the Dubai skies from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The best time to watch is between the night of August 12 and the early morning of August 13, and the best place to enjoy the show is Hatta.
Los Angeles, USA: Los Angeles will witness the Perseid meteor shower from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The meteor shower will look ethereal on the night of August 12 till dawn on August 13. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, visit Red Rock Canyon State Park.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Riyadh will witness the Perseids in August, between 11th and 13th. Between the night of August 12 and the early hours of August 13 is the ideal period to witness this show. For stunning views of this celestial show, travel as far away from the city as possible.
Salalah, Oman: In Salalah, the Perseid meteor shower will be active from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The best time to see it is between the night of August 12 and dawn on August 13. Ras Al Jinz is the most beautiful and serene spot to watch the meteor shower.
Sharjah, UAE: The Mleiha Archaeological Centre is the best location to watch the meteor shower in all its glory, between the night of 12th and the pre-dawn hours of 13th of August, 2024.
New York, USA: The Perseid meteor shower will compete with New York City’s dazzling lights from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The peak viewing time is from the night of August 12 to dawn on August 13. The Vanderbilt Space Observatory on Long Island is the perfect spot to watch.
Sydney, Australia: Even though the Perseid meteor shower will be active from August 11 to August 13 in Sydney, the peak time to see it is between the night of August 12 and dawn on August 13. Sydney Observatory is our favorite location to catch the meteors.
Tokyo, Japan: The Perseid meteor shower will be visible in Tokyo from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The best time to witness this celestial extravaganza is from night of August 12 to dawn on August 13. The beautiful hills and sandy beaches of Kozushima Island is the perfect destination to take your whole family to watch the meteor shower.
Moscow, Russia: Moscow residents will witness the meteor shower from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The best time to view it is between the night of August 12 and the early hours of August 13. Robinson Park is the perfect location for watching.
Paris, France: Observers in Paris can catch a glimpse of the Perseid meteor shower from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The optimal time to observe is from nightfall on August 12 to dawn on August 13. We think that Buttes-Chaumont Park is the best stargazing spot – the most stunning, large, and original green space in Paris.
London, UK: The best viewing period of the Perseid meteor shower in London is from August 11 to August 13, 2024. However, the night of August 12 till the early, pre-dawn hours of August 13 will bring the best views, as the spectacle will be at its peak. So, watch it from an ideal stargazing location, such as the Primrose Hill.
Berlin, Germany: The Perseid meteor shower will be active in Berlin from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The best time to see it is between the night of August 12 and the early morning of August 13. The Wuhletal hiking trail is the ideal spot for viewing.
Toronto, Canada: The Perseid meteor shower will be visible in Toronto from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The best time to view it is from the evening of August 12 until the morning of August 13. Point Pelee National Park stands out as the top spot for meteor watching.
Mexico City, Mexico: The Perseid meteor shower can be seen in Mexico City, Mexico from August 11 to August 13, 2024, but the best time to observe it is on August 12th night to the early hours of August 13. The perfect spot for observation is El Chico National Park.
Cape Town, South Africa: The Perseid meteor shower can be seen in Cape Town, South Africa from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The best time to watch is from the evening of August 12 to the morning of August 13. The best views of the meteor shower can be seen from Lion’s Head.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Buenos Aires will see the Perseid meteor shower from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The best time to view it is between the night of August 12 and the early hours of August 13. The Galileo Galilei Planetarium is the ideal spot to watch.
Cairo, Egypt: The Perseid meteor shower will be visible in Cairo from August 11 to August 13, 2024. From the night of August 12 to dawn on August 13, however, this meteor shower will reach its climax. The Giza Plateau is the perfect location to watch the meteor shower.
Beijing, China: In Beijing, the Perseid meteor shower will be active from August 11 to August 13, 2024. The best time to see it is between the night of August 12 and the early hours of August 13. Lingshan Mountain Scenic Area is the ideal spot for viewing.
The New Moon – August 4, 2024
August 4, 2024, was the night of the new moon. The bright stars on dark skies looked ethereal in places with low light pollution. For the best views, stargazers took day trips and glamping vacations to watch the sky light up with stars that are otherwise washed out due to the moon’s light. During a new moon, the moon has no light, making it perfect for stargazing. Thanks to the darkest night skies, the illuminated core of the Milky Way appeared to people in the Northern Hemisphere. It will stay this way until late fall.
Crescent Moon And Venus Join Close – August 5, 2024
On August 5, 2024, right after sunset, on the western horizon, the dazzling Venus and the waning crescent moon attracted star hunters. However, only the favored spots in the eastern US were in for a treat as the moon was very lightly illuminated. Visible for only about an hour after sunset, it was a bit harder to spot this event with the naked eye.
Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks In Mid-August – August 11 to August 13, 2024
The Perseid meteor shower, the year’s most powerful, will peak from midnight to early morning between August 11 and August 13, 2024. The best chance to see shooting stars is on the night between August 12 and August 13, 2024 (pre-dawn hours), as per NASA and the American Meteor Society. Look to the northeast sky near the constellation Perseus, and you might witness up to 100 meteors per hour if you’re in an ideal location that is far away from the city, with few clouds and little to light pollution, like an observatory or national park. The Perseids are known for bright, colorful fireballs. In fact, NASA says that the Perseids produce more fireballs than any other meteor shower since the fireballs originate from the cometary materials’ large particles.
Moon Meets Up With Jupiter – August 14, 2024
On the morning of August 14, 2024, Mars and Jupiter will have a little get-together in the sky. SkySafari says they’ll be visible and viewable together in binoculars for most of the month, but they’ll be closest overnight on August 14, 2024. Mars will come near Jupiter from the upper right side. Look above the east-northeast horizon around 2 am for the best views of the pair.
Supermoon occurring on August 19, 2024
Make sure to note August 19, 2024, on your calendar right now! Space.com reports that the first supermoon of the year will brighten the night sky on that day. This is when the moon is seen as bigger and brighter than normal, occurring only several times annually. The ideal time to observe it is during sunset as it rises over the southeastern horizon. The full sturgeon moon got its name because of the abundance of sturgeon fish in the Great Lakes during this time of year, as said by The Farmer’s Almanac.
The Conjugation Of Moon, Mars and Jupiter – August 27, 2024
In the early morning of Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the crescent moon will be hanging out with Mars and Jupiter in the eastern sky. They’ll form a pyramid near the Taurus constellation, with orange-tinged Betelgeuse, the second brightest star in Orion, shining below. They’ll start to appear around 2 am and continue rising eastward until sunrise.
