Perseid meteor shower set for Tuesday and Wednesday, but full visibility uncertainTodd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun
Baltimore SunTue, August 12, 2025 at 8:05 AM EDT
3 min read
As the annual Perseid meteor shower approaches its dazzling peak, skywatchers might have to work a little harder to spot the show this year.
The Perseids — famous for their fast, bright streaks across the summer night sky — are expected to peak Tuesday and Wednesday, producing as many as 50 to 100 meteors an hour under ideal conditions, NASA says.
But this year’s spectacle comes with a catch: an 84%-full moon that could wash out all but the brightest meteors. Nonetheless, the Perseids will remain visible through Aug. 23.
“One of the best annual meteor showers, the Perseids, peaks overnight on August 12th and into the 13th. Unfortunately, this year the Moon is nearly full on the peak night, and its glare will wash out all but the brightest meteors,” NASA scientists said in its latest report. “While that’s not so great for Perseid watchers, the good news is that another favorite annual meteor shower, the Geminids, is poised for Moon-free viewing in December.”
The Perseids are popular among amateur astronomers and casual sky watchers. Occurring during warm nights in the Northern Hemisphere, NASA astronomers predict the conditions are often perfect for lying back and enjoying the view.
The meteors are known for their swift, vivid streaks that frequently leave behind glowing trails of light and color as they burn through Earth’s atmosphere.
Adding to the spectacle are fireballs — exceptionally bright meteors that are larger and more dramatic than the typical streak. These fireballs often last longer and shine brighter, thanks to their origins in larger fragments of space debris. Their brightness can even exceed that of the planet Venus, lighting up the sky in brief, fiery flashes.
The annual meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a massive comet with a nucleus measuring about 16 miles across — nearly twice the size of the asteroid that is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, NASA scientists said.
The comet last swept through the inner solar system in 1992 and won’t return until 2126.
While the Perseids are visible from mid-July to late August, the best viewing is expected during the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 12 and 13.
Meteors, however, can sometimes be spotted as early as 10 p.m., especially in darker areas away from city lights. For optimal viewing, find a clear, dark sky and look toward the northeast — although meteors can appear in any part of the sky.
The Perseids get their name from the constellation Perseus, where their radiant — or apparent point of origin — is located. But it’s important to note: The constellation isn’t the source of the meteors, just a celestial marker to help identify the shower.
Stargazers can grab a blanket, head outside, and look up. The Perseids could be one of the most thrilling night-sky events of the year with no telescope required.
On Nov. 12, the Baltimore region got a glimpse of a meteor falling around 7:45 p.m., according to reports filed with the American Meteor Society. A video of the light streaking across the sky was captured and posted to the social media platform X.
The meteor could also be seen in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, according to reports sent to the American Meteor Society.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/perseid-meteor-shower-set-tuesday-120500825.html
