Full moon could disrupt peak views of popular meteors. When to watch the Perseids
The annual Perseids will peak in mid-August, leaving bursts of light and color up above as meteors whiz by throughout the night in the best meteor shower of 2025, according to NASA.
However, you may want to plan for viewing on alternate days during the meteor shower to avoid any disruptions from the sturgeon moon, experts advise. Be sure to also keep a lookout for clear, dark, night skies to observe the Perseids.
Here's what to know.
When do the Perseids peak?
The Perseid meteor shower will peak on the night of Aug. 12 overnight into the early morning hours of Aug. 13, per Space.com.
What else will be in August skies?
The sturgeon moon will peak Aug. 9.
What is the Perseid meteor shower?
The Perseids is a strong, fast meteor shower featuring about 50 to 100 meteors per hour, per NASA. Bright meteors and fireballs, very bright meteors, frequently streak across the night sky, creating a path of light and color overhead.
The meteors appear to come from the area of the constellation Perseus in the sky, NASA says, though the meteors can be seen in any part of the night sky, per the American Meteor Society.
How will the full moon impact viewing chances?
In 2025, the shower's peak will not meet these ideal conditions because the moon will be too bright, Robert Lunsford, the American Meteor Society's newsletter editor and fireball report coordinator, told USA TODAY.
This year's peak will occur just three days after the full moon.
When can you get a better glimpse of the Perseids?
A good day to view the Perseid meteor shower is Thursday, July 24. That's when the new moon is, according to the Old Farmers' Almanac. This will make the night skies darker and optimal for stargazing.
One of the best days to see meteors is on Wednesday, July 30, because two other meteor showers, alpha Capricornids and Southern delta Aquariids, will be happening at the same time, according to Lunsford.
"With the moon bothering the Perseids this year, the last couple of days of July might be a good opportunity to see some meteors without any moon," Lunsford said.
What causes the Perseids?
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through dusty debris trails left by comets and broken asteroid bits as they orbit the sun, NASA says. The debris collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.
The meteors in the Perseid meteor shower come from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a large comet discovered by American astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle in 1862, per NASA. Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli uncovered the comet as the source of the Perseids in 1865.
When is the best time to view the Perseids?
The best time to watch the Perseids in the Northern Hemisphere is in the predawn hours, though meteors may be visible as early as 10 p.m., the space agency says.
How can you see the Perseids in Michigan?
To ensure the best chance of viewing this meteor shower, here are a few things the American Meteor Society, USA TODAY, BBC Sky at Night Magazine and Space.com recommend:
Go to a dark area away from light pollution.
Allow about 30 minutes to let your eyes adjust to the dark.
Bring a deck chair or reclining chair to sit comfortably as you watch the meteors.
Select an open viewing area for an unobstructed look at the sky.
Avoid looking at phones or bright lights.
Keep your eyes up on the sky to catch fast meteors, visible for a second or two as they whizz through the sky.
Dress comfortably, warm for cold nights and bring a blanket.
Keep a hot drink, water and snacks and bug spray with you.
Where can you watch the Perseids in Michigan?
Look for a clear, open area to view the meteors in Michigan's skies. Keep an eye on the weather forecast closer to the peak to find out local viewing chances.
Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary.
The Alpena area has three Dark Sky Preserves: Rockport State Recreation Area, Thompson's Harbor State Park and Negwegon State Park.
In Mackinaw City, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, 15675 Headlands Road.
In Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front St.
In Munising, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
In Paradise, the Great Lakes Museum and Whitefish Point Light Station, 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road, and Tahquamenon Falls State Park at 41382 W. M-123.
In Port Austin, Port Crescent State Park, 1775 Port Austin Road.
In Clayton, Lake Hudson Recreation Area, 5505 Morey Hwy.
In Carp Lake, Wilderness State Park, 903 Wilderness Park Drive.
Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Keweenaw County and Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in Cass County are international spots. And, finally, the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area is an international sanctuary.
When did the Perseids begin?
The Perseid meteor shower began activity July 17 per NASA.
When will the Perseids end?
The Perseid meteor shower will end Aug. 23, NASA says.
How did the Perseid meteor shower get its name?
The name Perseid meteor shower or Perseids comes from the Greek Perseidai, or sons of Perseus, referring to Greek mythology, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Meteor, meteorites, meteoroids — which is it?
Those are words that sound similar, but there are important differences.
Meteoroid: A body in space. Asteroids are larger rocks in space, but there's no official distinction.
Meteor: A body passing through the atmosphere. If the meteor is large enough to show some dimensions or sparks, it's often called a fireball.
Meteorite: A meteor that survives the fall to the Earth's surface.
Meteor shower: When we see a lot of meteors streaking across the sky in a small amount of time, usually a matter of a few days.
When is the next meteor shower in 2025?
The Orionids will be active Oct. 2 to Nov. 12, peaking Oct. 22-23, according to the American Meteor Society.
USA TODAY contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How to see Perseids in Michigan, avoid full moon impact
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