Perseid Meteor Shower to Peak Amid Bright Moonlight, Limiting Visibility

The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak on the night of August 11 and 12, but stargazers may see fewer meteors this year due to bright moonlight. According to Ed Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, the waning gibbous moon will be about 92% full during the shower's maximum activity, making it harder to spot fainter meteors.

The American Meteor Society noted that the moon's brightness will "severely compromise this shower at the time of maximum activity." Typically, the Perseids can produce between 50 to 100 meteors per hour, but Krupp said that "this year far fewer will be seen."

Despite the challenging conditions, NASA highlights that the Perseids are known for producing fireballs—larger, brighter meteors that can persist longer than average streaks due to their origin from larger cometary particles. Stargazers hoping to catch the best views are advised to travel away from city lights and seek out dark, open areas. Krupp recommends locations such as Joshua Tree, the Mojave Desert, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for optimal viewing.

Bill Cooke, a NASA meteor scientist, advised viewers to lie flat on their backs and look straight up, as meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, not just near the constellation Perseus. Looking ahead, experts say the Perseid meteor shower in 2026 is expected to offer excellent viewing conditions with a dark moon and a higher number of meteors.