The Perseid meteor shower, typically one of the year’s best, may be disappointing in 2025 due to a bright waning gibbous moon (84% full) during its peak on August 12–13. The moonlight will likely wash out fainter meteors, reducing the usual rate of 50–100 meteors per hour to around 5–10 per hour, even in dark skies. Experts suggest skywatchers try earlier in the season, particularly this week (late July), when the moon is less bright or absent, offering darker skies for spotting early Perseids and overlapping showers like the Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids.
Best Viewing Tips for This Week:
- When: Observe from late July (now) through early August, between midnight and dawn, when the radiant in Perseus is higher. July 29–30 is ideal, coinciding with a quarter moon that sets around midnight and the peak of the Delta Aquariids.
- Where: Choose a dark, rural location away from city lights. Use a light pollution map or aim for a Dark Sky Place. Face away from any moonlight or artificial lights.
- How: Lie flat, let your eyes adjust to the dark for 20–30 minutes, and scan the entire sky (meteors can appear anywhere, not just near Perseus). Avoid smartphones to preserve night vision. No equipment is needed, but a blanket or reclining chair adds comfort.
- What to Expect: Early Perseids may yield 5–10 meteors per hour, with a chance of bright fireballs. You might also catch Delta Aquariids (up to 25 faint meteors per hour, best in southern latitudes) or Alpha Capricornids (5–10 meteors per hour, known for fireballs).
- Bonus: Look for the Venus-Jupiter conjunction in the morning sky on August 12, visible during pre-dawn meteor watching.
Posts on X echo this advice, noting that late July offers darker skies for early Perseids, with some users already spotting meteors. For updates, check local weather via BBC Weather or stargazing apps for radiant positions.