How and When to View the Perseid Meteor Shower (August 2026)
In addition to a historic total solar eclipse, August also features one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year. On the night of August 12 and into the early morning of August 13, astronomy enthusiasts in the northern hemisphere and parts of the southern hemisphere will be able to admire the Perseids during a particularly favorable viewing window.
Occasionally, Earth passes through the trails of particles left behind by some comets as they travel through the solar system. When these tiny fragments enter Earth’s atmosphere, friction with the air heats them until they burn up. From below, it looks as though the sky is filled with bright flashes streaking across the heavens at high speed. These are meteor showers. There are several throughout the year, and the one in August is called the Perseids.
Although a meteor shower is one of the few astronomical phenomena that can...
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