Perseid meteor shower: This is how the summer sky lights up!

Perseid meteor shower: This is how the summer sky lights up!

During the warm summer nights between July 17 and August 24, 2025, the night sky will once again be illuminated by a fascinating spectacle: the Perseids. These most famous meteor showers, which originate from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, put on a particularly impressive show, especially on the night of August 12th to 13th, when it reaches its peak and up to 100 meteors per hour can be visible. Experts recommend getting outdoors from 1 a.m. until dawn to get the best possible visibility. However, the likelihood of observing these impressive luminous phenomena depends largely on the lighting conditions on site.

Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle has an interesting history. It was first discovered on July 16, 1862 by Lewis A. Swift and independently identified on July 19 by Horace Parnell Tuttle. The comet moves in an elliptical orbit and orbits the sun every 133 years. With a diameter of about 26 kilometers and a perihelical velocity of 42.6 km/s, it is one of the near-Earth objects that can come particularly close to Earth - the next time in 2126, when it will come within 25 million kilometers of Earth. Even if a collision cannot be completely ruled out, there is no danger involved in this return.

Observing tips for the Perseids

To experience the Perseids in their full glory, there are some recommended tips. Experts recommend going to a place with little light to optimize your view of the starry sky. It's important to give your eyes about 15 to 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. For this purpose, observers should be equipped with appropriate clothing and a blanket or lounger. In addition, apps such as Star Walk 2 and Sky Tonight can be helpful to improve the view of the meteors and to better understand the starry sky. The company Grimmspace highlights that meteors arise from small meteoroids that enter the atmosphere and become visible here.

The Perseid meteors reach speeds of up to 60 km/s before they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. However, due to the influence of Jupiter and other atmospheric conditions, such as air and light pollution, the visibility of meteors in Central Europe can be severely limited. Under optimal conditions, observers should expect about 10 to 25 visible meteors per hour.

The name “Perseids” refers to the constellation Perseus, where the radiant of meteors is located. The connection between comet 109P and the meteor shower was recognized as early as 1866 by Giovanni Schiaparelli. These fascinating celestial events not only offer a breathtaking view, but also a deep insight into the mysteries of our solar system, as they show us the material that the comet emits during its orbits.

The Perseids are not only an astronomical event, but also a valuable piece of natural experience that invites you to look up into the sky and admire the wonders of the universe. This summer all stargazers can look forward to an impressive show.

For more information about the Perseids and their origins, visit the articles from 5min, Wikipedia and Grimmspace: 5min, Wikipedia, Grimspace.