Overview
- Authoritative forecasts from the American Meteor Society and others place the peak on Saturday night into early Sunday, with activity already underway and tapering after the 14th.
- Prime viewing is expected from about 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. local time before the waning crescent rises around 2:00–2:30 a.m., with rare long “earthgrazers” possible in the early evening.
- Under dark, rural skies observers could see roughly 120–150 meteors per hour at peak, though light pollution and weather will significantly reduce visible counts.
- The shower’s particles come from the rocky body 3200 Phaethon, producing slower, bright, often multicolored meteors and occasional fireballs radiating from near Castor and Pollux in Gemini.
- Public star parties and viewing events are scheduled across the United States for the peak night, with some requiring advance booking.