getty If you’ve ever laid out a blanket or set up a lawn chair to watch a meteor shower, there’s a good chance it was to watch the Perseids. Due to the peak at 01:00 UT on Saturday, August 13, 2022, the normal advice would be to be outside at that time (in Europe) or just after dark on Friday, August 12 (North America). As I’ve already mentioned, this year the Perseids coincide with a full moon, so all but the brightest meteors and “fireballs” (larger, brighter meteors) will be visible. So of the 50-75 or so “shooting stars” you might normally see during the Perseid peak, only a few—albeit bright ones—will be visible. Hardly worth it, I said, advising you to go watch it next weekend. However, there is another point of view. In an article posted on the American Meteor Society’s website, fireball coordinator Robert Lunsford says that despite the bright full moon, visible meteor rates during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower will be better than 95% of all other nights this year.
When to see the Perseid meteor shower
“Most of the Perseid meteors are faint, and bright moonlight will make viewing difficult,” he writes. “Despite the moonlight glare, the Perseids produce many bright meteors that can still be easily seen despite the bright moonlight.” He also advises two great times to watch for shooting stars—just after sunset on Friday, August 12, and just before dawn on Saturday, August 13.
Perseids: “Earth Shepherds” immediately after sunset
You will need patience, but seeing a “Shepherd” is unforgettable. “Right after sunset is actually the worst time in terms of the number of shooting stars you can see, but the few that come your way at this time of night are special.” The reason is that they simply pass through the upper atmosphere and will last much longer than the Perseids seen in the morning hours,” Lunsford writes. “Most of these ‘earth-grazing’ Perseids will be seen low in the east or west, traveling from north to south.”
Perseids: “shooting stars” before dawn
Activity from the Perseid meteor shower will peak where you are as the radiant – the constellation Perseus – rises higher in the night sky. “Theoretically, the best time to watch the Perseids is just before dawn, when the radiance is highest in a dark sky,” Lunsford writes. It’s around 04:00 local time, although he also reveals that experienced observers often say that the time between 03:00 and 04:00 is usually the best.
Perseids: “shooting stars” in a moonless sky
If you want to look for the Perseids in a dark, moonless sky, then you’re out of luck this year. When the full moon rises well after midnight, meteor rates will have slowed considerably, although it may be worth looking at the stars after August 19, 2022.
When is the 2023 Perseid meteor shower?
Next year’s Perseid meteor shower will peak — fortunately in moonless skies — around 07:00 UT on August 13, 2023 (so 03:00 EST and midnight PST), which will be perfect for North America. I wish you clear skies and open eyes.
