The Perseid Meteor Shower
How to Watch
Skip the binoculars, they’ll restrict your field of vision. Find a large clearing, the darker the skies, the better. Meteor activity ramps up after midnight, with the most intense period occurring in the pre-dawn hours of August 13th. But don’t worry if you missed the peak, the Perseid Shower will be around until the last week of August. So now is a great time to look at the night sky.
Predicted peak: is predicted** for August 13, 2023, at 7:58 UTC.
When to watch: The moon will be a waning crescent and 10% illuminated during 2023’s peak of the Perseid meteor shower. This shower rises to a peak gradually, then falls off rapidly. And Perseid meteors tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into the wee hours of the morning. The shower is often best before dawn. In 2023, the moon will be in the morning sky from early to mid-August but growing fainter each day before the peak.
Duration of shower: July 14 to September 1.
Radiant: The radiant rises in the middle of the night and is highest at dawn. See chart below.
Nearest moon phase: New moon falls at 9:38 UTC on August 16. There will be a waning crescent moon up during the Perseids’ peak in 2023. But the thin crescent moon will not be too bright. And you might even enjoy the waning crescent moon as you watch for the Perseids in 2023 (and the Delta Aquariids).
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, skywatchers frequently report 90 meteors per hour or more. In 2023, the waning crescent moon will not interfere with the meteor shower.
Note: The August Perseid meteor shower is rich and steady from early August through the peak. Plus, the Perseid meteors are colorful. And they frequently leave glowinng persistent trains. All of these factors make the Perseid shower perhaps the most beloved meteor shower for the Northern Hemisphere.