Perseid meteor shower nears its 2025 peak, but viewing might be 'hampered'
The Perseid meteor shower is considered the best of the year due to how many meteors viewers can see, about 50 to 100 per hour, according to NASA.
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through streams of debris left behind by comets and asteroids, according to the Natural History Museum in London. A meteor shower peak occurs when Earth passes through the thickest part of the debris stream; that's when viewers see the highest rate of meteors.
Here's more on the Perseids, how to check them out, and why this year's display could be diminished.
When is the Perseid meteor shower?
While the Perseid meteor shower is active from July 17 to Aug. 23, the peak is between Aug. 12 and 13 during pre-dawn hours, NASA said. It may be possible to see meteors from the shower as early as 10 p.m. though, according to NASA.
Why this year's Perseid shower might be 'hampered'
During this year's peak on Aug. 12, the Perseid meteor shower may be "hampered" due to an 84%-full moon, NASA said.
"Unfortunately, this year the Moon is nearly full on the peak night, and its glare will wash out all but the brightest meteors," NASA wrote.
'A few bright meteors may still be seen in the pre-dawn hours, but viewing conditions are not ideal,' NASA wrote, adding that skywatchers could look forward to another favorite meteor shower, the Geminids, which is set for "moon-free viewing in December."
Sky condition, or the average amount of the sky covered with thick clouds, also plays a role in how well viewers can see the meteor shower.
The night of Tuesday, Aug. 12, sky cover will be higher in southeastern U.S. states such as Georgia and North Carolina. Gray areas on the below map are expected to have higher sky cover in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 12, according to a National Weater Service forecast posted Aug. 8.
How to see the Perseid meteor shower
According to NASA, some tips for seeing meteor showers include:
Perseid meteor shower has bright lights, fireballs
The Perseid meteor shower peaks in mid-August each year, NASA said, giving viewers the chance to peer at bright meteors that leave long "wakes" of light and color behind them as they move through the Earth's atmosphere.
Perseids are also known for fireballs, or larger explosions of light and color that can last longer than the average meteor streak and are brighter, NASA said.
The meteor shower moves at the fast rate of 37 miles per second or 133,200 miles per hour, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS).
Where did the Perseid meteor shower get its name?
The meteors are called Perseids since they come from the part of the sky near the constellation of Perseus, named after the Greek hero, the AMS said.
'The constellation for which a meteor shower is named only serves to aid viewers in determining which shower they are viewing on a given night,' NASA said about the name. 'The constellation is not the source of the meteors.'
The Perseids are particles released from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle as it returns to the inner solar system, the organizations said. Comet Swift-Tuttle takes 133 years to orbit the Sun once, and it last visited the inner solar system in 1992.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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