The Perseid Meteor Shower is one of the best meteor showers of the year, and is set to peak this weekend.
2023 is a great year for observing the major meteor showers, making this weekend an ideal time to see a shooting star.
In 2023, the Perseid Meteor Shower will peak in the early hours of 13 August, which means the best times to see a Perseid will be late at night and in the early hours of the morning before dawn, 12/13 and 13/14 August.
But you can also watch the build up to the peak from 10/11 August and observe up until 15/16 August, making this weekend a potential Perseid extravaganza.
To get the full picture, read Sky at Night presenter Pete Lawrence's fantastic guide to the Perseid Meteor Shower, or get professional astronomer Paul G. Abel's top tips on observing the Perseid Meteor Shower.
For more info on the year's displays, find out when the next meteor shower is taking place.
Why the Perseid Meteor Shower 2023 is so good
The Perseid Meteor Shower is known as one of the most prolific of the annual meteor showers because of the number and frequency of meteors you might expect to see.
But this is not the only factor that affects how good a meteor shower is. The Moon (or lack thereof) also plays a big part.
One of the reasons the 2023 Perseid Meteor Shower is predicted to be so good is because the Moon will be out of the way during peak activity, meaning that lunar glare won't drown out meteors in the sky.
This is why 2023 has been such a good year for meteor showers.
How to see Perseid Meteor peak - top tips
For the best chance of seeing a Perseid meteor, you'll want to observe quite late, so if you're planning to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower with kids this weekend, we'd suggest getting some sleep earlier in the day!
Here are some top tips to help you and your family and friends see a Perseid.
- Set out something to lie on in the darkest part of your garden – a sunbed is perfect.
- Turn out all the lights in your house and position yourself away from sources of artificial light like streetlights
- Better still, get away from light pollution and to a dark-sky site, provided it's safe to do so
- Aim to observe from 23:00 BST until 03:30 BST.
- If you can’t do the whole period, from 01:00 until 02:00 BST is recommended (which makes it good for any grown-ups returning home from a night out)
- Wrap up warm and avoid any lights that will affect your night vision
- Need to find your way or check your phone? Use a red light torch and turn your phone's screen red
- Your eyes will adapt to the darkness over a period of about 20-30 minutes, helping you see more
- Look up to a height around two-thirds up the sky; any direction will do
- You're looking for bright streaks of light that appear to emanate from the constellation Perseus
Get the full expert advice via Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel's guides at the links at the top of this article, and for more stargazing advice (including info on the Perseids), watch Pete and Paul's video guide to the August night sky below.
Most of all, have fun, and don't forget to share your meteor-watching experiences with us via contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
