This year, the Moon’s phase will favour observations. The new moon falls on 12 August, so its glow will not brighten the night sky. A deep solar eclipse also occurs on the same day, resulting from the same alignment of the Moon relative to Earth and the Sun.
The first Perseids will be visible as early as the evening
There is no need to begin observing only before dawn. Meteors can already be spotted late in the evening, once the sky has become sufficiently dark after sunset.
During observations carried out last night between 23:00 and 24:00, we recorded more than a dozen meteors. This means that the shower’s activity is already clearly noticeable before the actual peak.
As the night progresses, the Perseid radiant will rise increasingly higher above the north-eastern horizon. From the perspective of an observer in Poland, this improves the geometry of the phenomenon and increases the number of meteors that can be spotted.
The most meteors before dawn
The most favourable period will fall in the hours before dawn on 13 August. Around 4:00, the shower’s radiant will already be high above the horizon, and activity should reach its highest level.
The forecast ZHR is around 100 meteors per hour. However, this is not the number that one person will automatically see during an hour of observation. ZHR refers to model conditions in which the sky is completely dark, the radiant is at the zenith, and the field of view is unobstructed.
In reality, the number of observed events will be lower and will depend primarily on sky quality. Within large cities, the glow from artificial lighting can reduce the number of visible meteors by as much as around 70 percent.
The Perseids will remain active after the peak has passed as well. Another opportunity will come on the night of 13–14 August, although the frequency of events should then be lower.
Which part of the sky to look at
The Perseid radiant is located in the constellation of Perseus, near the border with Cassiopeia. This does not mean, however, that you should look at this particular part of the sky all the time.
Near the radiant, meteor trails are usually short. Much longer streaks can be seen farther away from this point, so during observations it is best to take in as large a portion of the sky as possible.
From Poland, the eastern and southern directions, as well as the higher part of the sky, will be particularly favourable. The fewer streetlights, buildings and other sources of light there are nearby, the greater the chance of spotting fainter events.
The new moon removes one of the main observational problems
During this year’s peak, the Moon will not interfere with observations. Its new moon falls exactly on 12 August, so the night sky will remain free of moonlight.
This is of great importance for fainter Perseids. When the shower’s peak falls near a full moon or first quarter, the Moon’s scattered light increases background brightness and causes a significant proportion of meteors to become invisible to the naked eye.
On the night of 12–13 August 2026, the quality of observations will therefore be determined mainly by cloud cover, atmospheric transparency and the level of light pollution. This will be the first opportunity in two years to observe the Perseid peak without the strong impact of moonlight.
The source of the shower is comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle
The Perseids are produced when Earth enters a stream of material left behind by the periodic comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Particles distributed along its orbit enter Earth’s atmosphere and produce the short-lived flashes of light observed as meteors.
The stream also contains considerably brighter objects. Perseid fireballs can reach negative magnitudes and temporarily outshine Jupiter.
After the brightest events pass through the upper atmosphere, a greenish-grey trace may remain. This trail, associated with the ionisation and excitation of matter, can gradually deform under the influence of high-altitude winds and remain visible for many minutes, or even several dozen minutes in isolated cases.
A telescope will not help when observing the Perseids
The best way to observe the shower is with the naked eye. Binoculars and telescopes cover too small a portion of the sky, while a meteor may appear anywhere across the broad field of view.
After arriving at a dark observing site, it is worth giving your eyes time to adapt. A bright phone screen quickly impairs night vision, so its use should be limited during observations.
For observations lasting several hours, a deck chair or reclining seat that allows you to look high above the horizon will be practical, along with a blanket and a warm drink. Peak activity will not occur until the second half of the night, but the first Perseids can be sought as soon as darkness falls.