Overview
- The shower reached its confirmed maximum during the night of Wednesday into early Thursday, Aug. 12–13, with the highest activity reported across the Northern Hemisphere.
- NASA said peak rates under ideal, local conditions were about 50–100 meteors per hour while some outlets quoted higher, less-corroborated estimates up to 150 per hour.
- Officials urged viewers to use a dark, open site, face northeast initially, allow 20–30 minutes for eye adaptation and scan the whole sky rather than fix on one point.
- The coincidence of a new moon improved visibility for many observers and measurable Perseid activity will continue at lower levels through late August depending on clouds and local light pollution.
- The Perseids come from debris shed by comet 109P/Swift‑Tuttle, which has a roughly 133‑year orbit and produces fast, often bright meteors and occasional fireballs.