Perseids Meteor Shower

meteor shower · space · summer night sky · comet

Comet's icy trail. The Perseids happen because Earth passes through the dusty trail left behind by a comet called Swift-Tuttle. When our planet crosses this path, all that dust and debris crashes into our atmosphere and burns up, creating bright streaks of light.

Named after Perseus. These meteors are called the Perseids because they seem to shoot out from the direction of the constellation Perseus, a hero from Greek mythology. If you watch the sky, the meteors all appear to come from that same area of the stars.

Summer's light show. The Perseids are visible from mid-July through late August, with the best viewing happening in the peak nights around mid-August. You can see them best from dark places away from city lights, and no telescope is needed, just your eyes and patience!

Thousands of meteors. During the peak nights of the Perseid meteor shower, you might see dozens or even hundreds of meteors per hour streaking across the sky. This makes the Perseids one of the most dramatic meteor showers of the entire year.

Free space show. Unlike many exciting things in nature, you don't need any special equipment or tickets to see the Perseids, just find a dark spot under the stars and look up.