One of the finest meteor showers of 2025, the Perseids, is scheduled to commence this month, as it will reportedly be active from July 14 to September 1. Even with such an extended activity period, the meteor shower isn’t anticipated to reach its peak until well into August — specifically, during the night of August 12 to 13.
During the peak time, there could be as many as 75-80 meteors per hour, but that may not actually be the optimal moment to observe them. This is because the Moon is expected to be 84% full at that time, resulting in an exceptionally bright night sky. Nonetheless, the meteors will still be visible, especially after 11 p.m. local time, when the peak begins.
Nevertheless, many skywatchers suggest going outside and catching a glimpse of the premier meteor shower of 2025 prior to this peak. In fact, the prime time to witness the Perseids will likely fall between July 21 and 27. This period corresponds with the Moon phases progressing towards the New Moon, which is the darkest phase of the month. Specifically, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the New Moon will be fully occurring on July 24, facilitating an easier view of the bright meteors as they dart across the sky.
The Perseids stand out as one of the top meteor showers of the year due to their vibrancy and activity. We witness this shower as Earth traverses the debris trail left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. This comet is also the largest known object to make repeated passes by Earth, with its debris trail traveling at approximately 133,200 miles per hour through space. Although the fragments are generally the size of a grain of sand, they illuminate upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.
Although visible at all latitudes, the best meteor shower of 2025 will be most observable from the Northern Hemisphere. Despite being one of the finest, it is far from the largest meteor shower of the year. That event is not anticipated until December. However, in a few years, the Perseid meteor shower is expected to become even more remarkable, as Space.com indicates that the 2028 shower will transform into a storm.
