Here's how to view the Perseid meteor shower
They start on 17th July
July and August are the months when we can expect the Perseid meteor shower, which can bring a spectacle in the sky of around 150 shooting stars per hour!
This year, the meteor shower will start on 17th July and continue until 24th August 2026, with the peak over the 12th and 13th August, when there will also be a partial solar eclipse for stargazers in the UK!
Where to look for the Perseids
The meteor shower is called the Perseids because the meteors radiate from the constellation of Perseus. Perseus (a Greek hero), can be found between Cassiopeia (W shape) and the bright star of Capella.
Dark skies help when viewing meteors, but don't use binoculars or a telescope, meteor showers should be observed with the naked eye because they're so quick!
When will the meteor shower take place?
Meteors happen all the time, however it is advised to go out late at night, or early in the morning for the best chance to see the shooting stars. According to Royal Museums Greenwich: 'The radiant of the Perseids is actually always above the horizon as seen from the UK, which means that observers in the UK should be able to see some meteors as soon as the Sun sets. Therefore, it is worth looking up in the early evening.
'In 2026 the peak of the Perseid meteor shower fortunately occurs during new Moon, so conditions are ideal for seeing the peak.
'The best time to see the Perseids is between midnight and 5.30am.'
The Perseid meteor shower happens between 17th July and 24th August, with the peak being on the 12th and 13th August.
Will the Moon affect the meteor shower?
No, this year, on the same day as the peak of the Perseids, the Moon will have set below the horizon, following the partial solar eclipse.
READ MORE: How to watch next month's solar eclipse and meteor shower
Now take a look at things you probably didn't know about shooting stars:
1. They aren't actually stars
Despite their commonly used name 'shooting star' they are not a star at all, they are in fact small particles of dust and space rocks.
2. They're not comets either
Many people get confused between comets and meteors. Meteors are pieces of dust and fragments from a comet that become the meteoroids which enter the Earth's atmosphere.
3. Their technical names are: meteoroid / meteor / meteorite
Technically the meteoroid is the lump of rock or dust, the meteor is the flash of light that you can see and the meteorite is what hits the ground (if it survives).
4. The best meteor shower is called the Perseids
The Perseids, which peak on the 12th August every year, consistently give stargazers a fantastic display of meteors. Usually observers can expect around 50 meteors an hour, however in 1993 stargazers were treated with up to 500 meteors an hour!
Imagine that! ðŸŒ
In 2026, we're expecting around 150 meteors per hour.
5. They are named after constellations
Meteor showers are named after the area of the sky they appear to come from, for example the Perseids look like they're coming from Perseus constellation.
6. They are incredibly fast
Meteors are incredibly fast and have been observed travelling at 25,000 mph to 160,000 mph.
7. Particles hit us every day
Every day, millions of particles of dust hit our atmosphere, but a lot of them are too small for us to see.
8. The rocks are very old
Studies show that those meteoroids that hit the Earth (and become meteorites) contain some of the oldest known rocks in the Solar System. Many of those are from Mars.
9. Meteorite death
Sadly in 2016 a taxi driver in India was killed when he was hit by something from the sky. It is believed that he was killed by a meteorite as it left a four-foot crater behind. If it was a meteorite that killed him then it would be the first time in two centuries since this has happened.
10. NATO used their trails for communication
Many years ago, NATO used the ionised trails from meteoroids to establish communication paths between radio stations.
Now take a look at when and how to see the Perseid meteor shower:
1. Dark sky
You might not realise how much light pollution there is in your neighbourhood, find out more about light pollution and where you can find a really dark sky here.
Allow your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Don't forget that the moon can also interfere so try to avoid times when it is visible.
2. Date and time
To increase your chances of seeing some meteors make sure you find out the best time to look for them. Often it is when the sky is at its darkest (in the middle of the night), or if there is a meteor shower, when the radiant (where the meteors come from - the constellation Perseus) is high in the sky.
3. Look in the right area
It sounds obvious, but the sky is a very large area and meteors are very fast! Make sure you know which area of the sky you should be looking in. The Perseids come from Perseus, the easiest way to find it would be to use a free sky map app on your phone.
4. Good weather
Again, it seems obvious, but there's no point in standing in the cold when it's cloudy. Check the weather forecast before going outside, and if it's going to be clear later on then wait until then if you can.
5. Don't use a telescope or binoculars
Using a telescope or binoculars will DECREASE your chances of seeing a meteor. Meteors are so quick that you are likely to miss them if you don't use the naked eye. Save your telescope or binoculars for the moon or planets.