Perseid Meteor Shower 2027: Mid-August Peak, Where to Look, and What the Moon Will Do
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How we wrote this: Shower facts come from NASA's Perseids page and NASA's meteors and skywatching pages; 2027 Moon phases come from the U.S. Naval Observatory (all linked below), checked October 29, 2026. NASA's page currently lists 2026 activity dates; we'll update this guide when NASA posts 2027 dates. Moon phase times are in Universal Time (UT).
NASA calls the Perseids "the most popular meteor shower of the year," and its Perseids page says the shower is considered the best of the year. It arrives on warm summer nights, which makes it the easiest major shower to watch comfortably. Here's what's known now about August 2027.
When it peaks
NASA says the Perseids peak in mid-August every year. For reference, NASA's page lists the 2026 shower as active through August 24 with a peak night of August 12-13. NASA hasn't posted its 2027 dates yet, so treat mid-August as the plan and check NASA's page in summer 2027 for the exact peak night.
What makes the Perseids special
From NASA:
- Source: comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. It takes 133 years to orbit the Sun and last passed through the inner solar system in 1992. Its nucleus is about 16 miles (26 km) across.
- Radiant: the constellation Perseus, which gives the shower its name. NASA notes the constellation only helps you tell which shower you're seeing; it isn't where the meteors come from.
- Speed: about 37 miles (59 km) per second.
- Fireballs: the Perseids are known for them. NASA explains fireballs come from larger particles of comet material and are brighter than magnitude -3.
- Trails: swift, bright meteors that often leave long "wakes" of light and color.
How many? NASA's page gives two figures: its fast-facts box says about 25 meteors per hour under dark skies, while its description calls the Perseids one of the most plentiful showers with about 50 to 100 per hour. Real counts depend heavily on sky darkness and moonlight.
Where and when to look
NASA says the Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the pre-dawn hours, though meteors can appear as early as 10 p.m. You don't need to find Perseus: meteors streak across the whole sky. NASA's skywatching pages have tips on finding a dark place to stargaze.
The 2027 Moon
Moonlight is the main thing that washes out fainter meteors. The U.S. Naval Observatory's phase data for August 2027:
| Phase | Date (UT) | Time (UT) |
|---|---|---|
| New Moon | Aug. 2 | 10:05 |
| First quarter | Aug. 9 | 04:54 |
| Full Moon | Aug. 17 | 07:29 |
| Last quarter | Aug. 25 | 02:27 |
So a mid-August peak in 2027 falls between first quarter and full Moon, with a bright, more-than-half-lit Moon in the sky for part of the night. The hours after moonset will be the darkest; use the Naval Observatory's one-day rise/set tool for your town to see when the Moon sets on peak night, and plan to watch after that, within the pre-dawn window NASA recommends.
The new Moon on August 2, 2027 is also the day of a total solar eclipse with totality crossing southern Spain, North Africa and parts of the Middle East, per NASA.
Getting ready
- Find a dark site. NASA's skywatching pages have tips on choosing one (linked above).
- Try photographs. NASA has a guide on photographing a meteor shower.
- Earlier in the year, the Lyrids and Eta Aquariids come in spring, and our Moon phases guide explains how to read the phase calendar.
Quick checklist
- Plan for mid-August 2027; confirm the peak on NASA's page next summer.
- Watch before dawn, after moonset.
- Find a dark site away from lights.
- Check moonset for your location with the USNO tool.