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Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Under Bright Sturgeon Moon

An 84 percent full moon will drown out most faint Perseids during the August 12–13 peak, shrinking the window for sightings to late-night hours in dark-sky locations.

Overview

  • The Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on the night of August 12–13, with best visibility after midnight until around 5:30 a.m.
  • A near-full Sturgeon Moon rising at dusk will flood the sky with light, reducing visible meteor rates to roughly 5–10 per hour in illuminated conditions.
  • Observers should seek unobstructed, low-light sites, allow 20–30 minutes for eye adjustment and face away from the moon to block its glare.
  • No special equipment is needed to spot the show, and bright fireballs may still stand out for patient stargazers in dark-sky areas.
  • Moonrise times will shift later in the nights following the peak, extending moonless viewing windows even as meteor counts taper off.