After the total solar eclipse that has crossed Spain this Wednesday, the show continues during the early morning. The Perseids 2026 will reach their peak on the night of August 12 to 13, with especially favorable conditions due to the coincidence with the new moon.
To contemplate them, it will not be necessary to use telescopes, binoculars, or any type of eye protection. The key will be to find a place with little light pollution, have a wide horizon, and wait until the last hours of the night, when the activity will be greater.
What time to see the Perseids 2026 tonight
The best moment to observe the Perseids will come during the early morning from Wednesday to Thursday.
The National Geographic Institute places the peak of activity between 4:00 and 6:00 AM on August 13. It will be in that range when the chances of seeing a greater number of meteors will increase.
However, it will not be necessary to wait exactly until four in the morning. The Perseids can be observed throughout the night, and the possibilities will progressively increase as the early morning advances and the radiant of the shower gains height in the sky.
The activity of the Perseids also extends over several weeks. According to the calendar of the International Meteor Organization, the phenomenon remains active between July 17 and August 24, although the night of August 12 to 13 concentrates its peak.
Where to best see the Perseids
There is no single point from which the Perseids can be observed. The best location will be any place far enough away from the lighting of towns and cities.
Rural environments, mountainous areas, or open spaces with a clear horizon usually offer better conditions than large urban areas.
To choose a good observation point, it is advisable to look for:
- Dark skies, away from streetlights and large urban centers.
- A place with a wide field of vision, without buildings, trees, or mountains that block a good part of the sky.
- Areas where it is possible to stay for a time without exposure to artificial lights.
- Safe spaces equipped for staying overnight.
The greater the light pollution, the fewer weak meteors can be distinguished.
It is not necessary to look towards Perseus
Although they are called Perseids because the meteors seem to come from an area near the constellation of Perseus, it is not necessary to locate it or keep your gaze fixed on that point.
The shooting stars can appear practically anywhere in the sky.
In fact, looking at something away from the radiant can allow you to observe longer trails crossing the sky. The most advisable thing is to find a comfortable position from which the largest possible surface area of the sky can be covered.
The new Moon will especially favor observation
One of the factors that makes this dawn one of the best nights to observe the Perseids is the absence of moonlight.
The new Moon coincides this year with August 12, so there will practically be no moonlight that can hide the less bright meteors.
It is an important difference compared to other years. A full or very bright Moon can significantly reduce the number of shooting stars visible to the naked eye, even when the activity of the shower is high.
How many Perseids can be seen
The International Meteor Organization estimates for 2026 a zenithal hourly rate close to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.
This figure does not mean that any observer will see a hundred shooting stars in sixty minutes.
It is a theoretical value calculated for a completely dark sky, with perfect atmospheric conditions and the radiant located in an optimal position.
From a rural area and under good conditions, the actual rates during the peak could be approximately between 30 and 50 Perseids per hour.
How to prepare for observation
Unlike the solar eclipse, the Perseids can be viewed directly with the naked eye.
No special glasses are needed and it is also not advisable to use telescopes or binoculars, because these instruments considerably reduce the field of view.
Before starting, it is advisable to let the eyes adapt to the darkness. Constantly looking at the phone screen can hinder that adaptation and make it more difficult to distinguish weak meteors for a few minutes.
It is also advisable to have a comfortable position, as a meteor shower requires patience. The meteors do not appear regularly: several can be seen in a few minutes and then there can be a period without any visible.
Why they are called "tears of Saint Lawrence"
The Perseids are also popularly known as "tears of Saint Lawrence", because their peak occurs every year around August 10, the feast day of Saint Lawrence.
Despite the name of meteor shower, the flashes do not come from real stars.
They are small particles from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere at high speed and generate an intense luminous phenomenon.
The Perseids reach speeds close to 59 kilometers per second, which is why many of their flashes are barely visible for a few seconds.
From the eclipse to the Perseids in the same night
The early morning will also have a particularly unique character in Spain.
Only a few hours earlier, millions of people have witnessed the total solar eclipse of August 12, which has traveled across the country from west to east.
The sunset does not mean this time the end of the astronomical day. Those who stay awake will be able to go, in just a few hours, from watching how the Moon hid the Sun to searching for the Perseids crossing a sky practically without moonlight.