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5h ago

Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Under New Moon; Local Weather Will Decide What You See

A new moon will make skies especially dark and could reveal a strong meteor display if local clouds and fog stay away.

The Perseids meteor shower sparkles over the hills of Pacifica in 2001. The annual meteor shower is at its peak this week, though weather conditions may impact visibility across the Bay Area.
The Perseid meteor shower streaks across the Bay Area sky in August 2020, as seen from the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. The annual summer spectacle will hit its peak Wednesday night into Thursday. 
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Overview

  • The Perseids are forecast to peak the night of Aug. 12 into the early morning of Aug. 13, with activity building nightly beforehand.
  • Official rate estimates vary by sky conditions, with the American Meteor Society saying about 30–50 meteors per hour in rural areas and NASA saying up to 50–100 per hour under ideal dark skies.
  • Observers are advised to go out after dark, find a spot well away from city lights, look toward the northeast between midnight and dawn, and give their eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust.
  • Multiple Bay Area institutions are running paid and free watch parties, but local forecasts warn that marine layer fog and an incoming surge of monsoon moisture could block views for coastal and some inland locations.
  • The Perseids come from debris left by comet 109P/Swift‑Tuttle, are known for bright fireballs, and will remain active through Aug. 24 so skywatchers can look again on nights after the peak if weather is clearer.