Fireballs Incoming: Perseids to Light Up August Skies

Mark your calendars: the Perseids meteor shower is peaking on the night of August 12 to 13, and it’s bringing those famous fireballs along. These aren’t your average shooting stars—they’re extra bright, sometimes louder-than-life meteors that can even outshine Venus.

The Moon Might Dim the Show—But Not the Fireballs

This year’s full moon might wash out some of the fainter meteors, but don’t worry—the Perseids’ signature fireballs will still blaze through. So you’ll still catch something magical, even if the sky’s a little lit.

Best Time to Watch? Midnight to Dawn

Your best shot at seeing the shower is after midnight, from a dark, open area far from city lights. You don’t need a telescope—just give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust to the dark and stay patient.
 

Want to Level Up? Head to a Stargazing Spot

Some locations are going all out for the event, offering guided stargazing, telescope viewing, and commentary—all from cooler, higher-up places with clearer skies.

A Quick Science Drop: What Are the Perseids?

The Perseids happen every year when Earth cruises through debris from Comet Swift–Tuttle. That dust and ice hits our atmosphere at 59 km/s, lighting up the sky in streaks that seem to shoot out from the Perseus constellation.

Comet Fun Fact:

Swift–Tuttle is twice the size of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, but no stress—it won’t come close to Earth again until 2126, and astronomers say we’re in the clear for a few thousand years.

How to Photograph the Meteor Shower Like a Pro

Got a DSLR or mirrorless camera? Great.

• Use a wide-angle lens

• Set aperture to f/2.8 or lower

• Use 15–30 second exposure and ISO 1600+

• Manually focus on a star or set to infinity

• Bring a tripod, extra batteries, and a lens heater if you're fancy like that

You’ll be all set to snap some cosmic content.

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