Night owls in Illinois may have a chance to view a popular summer meteor shower over the next few weeks.
Here’s what how to catch it.
What is the Perseid meteor shower?
According to the American Meteor Society, this celestial event is the most popular meteor shower. Particles are released from a comet named 109P/Swift-Tuttle as it returns to the inner solar system. The name “Perseid” comes from Perseus, the constellation near where the meteors appear to originate at maximum activity.
The Perseids become active on July 17 to Aug. 23 and are expected to peak on Aug. 12-13.
When is the Perseid meteor shower?
The shower is active now, and skywatchers might catch it starting at around 11 p.m.
According to space.com, it’s active from mid-July through late August and will peak overnight between Aug. 12 and 13.
When is the best time to see the Perseids?
The best time to view the Perseids is between midnight and dawn, according to the the American Meteor Society.
A good day to view them is Thursday, July 24, the same day as the full moon, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. This will make the night skies darker and optimal for stargazing.
Another good day to see the Perseids is on Wednesday, July 30, because two other meteor showers, alpha Capricornids and Southern delta Aquariids, will be happening at the same time, according to Robert Lunsford, the American Meteor Society’s newsletter editor and fireball report coordinator.
Can I see the Perseid meteor shower in Illinois?
It’s possible — the phenomenon is most visible from the northern hemisphere, according to the American Meteor Society.
Its peak is close to the Aug. 9 full moon, so moonlight could affect viewing. The American Meteor Society predicted the moon will be at 84% full at the meteor shower’s peak.
Other astronomical events to check out in July 2025
If you plan on observing the sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for July 2025:
July 21 & 22 – Moon, Venus & Jupiter – You can find the crescent moon and the planet Venus toward the east in the morning sky. With a clear view toward the horizon you can also spot Jupiter low in the sky.
July 28 – Moon & Mars – The crescent Moon appears right next to Mars after sunset.
All month – Constellation: Aquila – You can spot the Eagle constellation, Aquila, in the eastern part of the sky during the first half of the night, writes NASA. Its brightest star, Altair, is the southernmost star in the Summer Triangle, which is an easy-to-locate star pattern in Northern Hemisphere summer skies.
All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south.
Find stars, planets and constellations with these free astronomy apps
The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations.
When is the August 2025 full moon?
The full Sturgeon Moon should reach peak illumination by Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.
Julia Gomez contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Perseid meteor shower 2025: best days to view it, where will it be visible