Questions and bridges

When Is the Best Time to Watch a Meteor Shower?

The best time is the night around a shower’s peak, under a dark, clear sky away from city lights. Most meteors are usually seen in the hours after midnight and before dawn, and more are visible when the Moon is faint or absent.

Short answer

Pick the night of a shower’s peak (the time when Earth passes through the densest part of a stream of comet or asteroid debris). Go somewhere dark, check for clear skies, and watch between midnight and dawn.

Why after midnight?

After midnight your location faces forward in the direction of Earth’s motion around the Sun, so it sweeps up more particles. Meteors tend to be more numerous and brighter. Evening meteors are fewer, but often slower and longer-lasting.

What helps

• The Moon. A bright Moon washes out faint meteors. A new or set Moon is best. See lunar phases.
• Dark skies. Light pollution is the biggest obstacle; read about light pollution.
• Patience. Your eyes need roughly 20–30 minutes to adapt to darkness. Avoid your phone screen.
• No instruments. Binoculars and telescopes narrow your view. Lie back and take in the whole sky.

Showers to try

Well-known examples are the Perseids in August and the Geminids in December. For an overview see meteor showers, and for upcoming peaks see the meteor shower calendar.

A friendly tip

Dress warmer than you think, bring a mat, and be patient. Even on a good night, meteors tend to arrive in bursts.

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