Tennesseans should look skyward over the next couple of nights and mornings to catch a glimpse of the fireballs in the Perseid meteor shower.
Backyard astronomers and stargazers can catch the peak of the prolific Perseid meteor shower in 2025 starting in the evening hours of Aug. 11 and early morning hours of Aug. 12. The celestial fire show started on July 17, but the meteor shower is almost a month long.
“The Perseids, which peak in mid-August, are considered the best meteor shower of the year,” according to NASA. “With swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long ‘wakes’ of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth’s atmosphere.”
Usually, this fairly prolific celestial show is a fiery sight, producing large, bright meteors during peak viewing, but for 2025 that light will be dimmed due to the peak’s proximity to the full moon. Here’s what to know.
When is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower?
Stargazers will start to see more shooting stars from the Perseid meteor shower on the night of Aug. 11 into the early morning of Aug. 12. But the peak, with the brightest and most meteors, is expected between Aug. 12 and 13 during pre-dawn hours, NASA said
More of a night owl than an early bird? Meteors from the shower could be seen as early as 10 p.m. though, according to NASA.
How many meteors can be expected during Perseid’s peak?
People can expect to see 50 to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions during the peak, according to the American Meteor Society and NASA.
The large, bright meteors, usually referred to as fireballs, won’t be as spectacular this year due to how close the Perseid peak is to the August full moon.
Will the Perseid meteor shower be a wash out?
The prolific meteor shower will be plentiful, but people’s view of the celestial event will be “hampered” due to the brightness of the moon, which hit its full phase on Aug. 9.
“Unfortunately, this year the Moon is nearly full on the peak night, and its glare will wash out all but the brightest meteors,” NASA wrote.
Along with the brightness of the moon, people in the Volunteer State could also be dealing with rainy conditions and cloud coverage that could put an extra damper on being able to see the fireballs. West and Middle Tennessee viewers might have the best chance of catching a glimpse of the meteor shower, but people in East Tennessee might be completely rained out, according to National Weather Service’s forecast for Aug. 12 and Aug. 13.
“A few bright meteors may still be seen in the pre-dawn hours, but viewing conditions are not ideal,” NASA wrote, adding that skywatchers could look forward to another favorite meteor shower, the Geminids, which is set for “moon-free viewing in December.”
When is the best time to watch the Perseid meteor shower in Tennessee?
Stargazers who aren’t washed out can catch the meteor shower between midnight and dawn, according to the American Meteor Society. The Perseid meteor shower can be seen anywhere with a clear sky and not a lot of light pollution.
If you are looking for a different experience, multiple Tennessee state parks are holding a couple of nighttime events for the peak of the meteor shower.
You can find information on night hikes and viewing events across the Volunteer State. Some of the events do cost to participate.
When is the last night of the Perseid meteor shower?
The Perseid meteor shower ends on Aug. 21
USA TODAY contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How to see the ‘best meteor shower of the year’ in Tennessee