View source for Perseids

{{short description|Prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle}}
{{About||the mythological dynasty|Perseids (mythology)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox meteor shower
| name          = Perseids (PER)
| image         = Perseid Meteor Shower at Mojave National Preserve (51374983157) (cropped).jpg
| caption       = Perseids in 2021 as seen from the [[Mojave National Preserve]], [[California]]
| pronounce     = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɜr|s|i|.|ə|d|z}}<ref>{{MW|Perseid}}</ref>
| date          = AD 36 (first record)<ref name="NASA Chat">{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/677215main_Perseids2012.pdf |title=NASA Chat: Stay 'Up All Night' to Watch the Perseids! |publisher=NASA |author1=Bill Cooke |author2=Danielle Moser |author3=Rhiannon Blaauw |name-list-style=amp |page=55 |date=2012-08-11 |access-date=2013-08-16 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025030506/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/677215main_Perseids2012.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Kronk"/>
| parent        = [[Comet Swift–Tuttle]]<ref name=moore_rees2011/>
<!-- Radiant -->
| constellation = [[Perseus (constellation)|Perseus]] and [[Cassiopeia (constellation)|Cassiopeia]]<br/>(near [[List of stars in Cassiopeia#HD19557|HD 19557]])
| ra            = {{RA|03|13}}<ref name="AMS2023"/>
| dec           = {{DEC|+58}}<ref name="AMS2023"/>
<!-- Properties -->
| month         = July 14 – September 1<ref name="AMS2023"/>
| peak          = August 12<br/>(August 13 for 2023)<ref name="AMS2023"/>
| velocity      = 58.8<ref name="AMS2023"/>
| zhr           = 100<ref name="AMS2023"/>
| notes         = 
}}

The '''Perseids''' are a prolific [[meteor shower]] associated with the [[comet Swift–Tuttle]] that are usually visible from mid-[[July]] to late-[[August]]. The [[meteoroid|meteors]] are called the Perseids because they appear from the general direction of the [[constellation]] [[Perseus (constellation)|Perseus]] and in more modern times have a [[radiant (meteor shower)|radiant]] bordering on [[Cassiopeia (constellation)|Cassiopeia]] and [[Camelopardalis]].

==Etymology==
The name is derived from the word [[Perseids (mythology)|Perseids]] ({{langx|el|Περσείδαι}}), the sons of [[Perseus]] in [[Greek mythology]].

==Characteristics==
[[File:Perseiden-2026-EN.jpg|thumb|262px|Appearance of the Perseids on 12 August 2026 at 23:30 local summer time]]
[[File:P10220XX.01.49.MESZ.14.08.2019.Berlin.Perseiden.x0.1.gif|thumb|A [[meteoroid]] of the Perseids with a size of about 1 cm entering the Earth's atmosphere in slow motion (x&nbsp;0.1). The meteoroid is at the bright head of the trail, and the [[Plasma recombination|recombination]] glow of the [[ionisation|ionised]] [[mesosphere]] is still visible for about 0.7 seconds in the tail.<br />([[c:File:P10220XX.01.49.MESZ.14.08.2019.Berlin.Perseiden.x1.0.gif|Variant of the animation in real time]])]]
[[File:Perseiden.Westhavelland.2020-08-12.webm|thumb|Video of two meteors of the Perseids within five seconds and a [[Starlink satellites|Starlink satellite]] in [[Cygnus (constellation)|constellation Cygnus]] taken in International Dark Sky Reserve [[Westhavelland Nature Park|Westhavelland]] on 12 August 2020]]

The stream of debris is called the Perseid cloud and stretches along the [[orbit]] of the comet [[Swift–Tuttle]]. The cloud consists of particles ejected by the comet as it travels on its 133-year orbit.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dan Vergano|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2013/08/08/perseids-2013-meteor/2628521/ |title=Perseid meteor shower to light up night sky this weekend |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=2010-08-07 |access-date=2013-08-12}}</ref> Most of the particles have been part of the cloud for around a thousand years. However, there is also a relatively young filament of dust in the stream that was pulled off the comet in 1865, which can give an early mini-peak the day before the maximum shower.<ref>{{Cite web
 |title       = The 2004 Perseid Meteor Shower
 |date        = June 25, 2004
 |author      = Dr. Tony Phillips
 |publisher   = Science@NASA
 |access-date  = 2010-03-12
 |url         = https://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/25jun_perseids2004.htm
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100320071509/http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/25jun_perseids2004.htm
 |archive-date = March 20, 2010
}}</ref> The dimensions of the cloud in the vicinity of the Earth are estimated to be approximately 0.1 [[astronomical units]] (AU) across and 0.8 AU along the Earth's orbit, spread out by annual interactions with the Earth's gravity.<ref>{{Cite book
| title = The Cosmic Dust Connection
| editor = J. Mayo Greenberg
| date = 1996
| publisher = Springer Science & Business Media
| article = Cometary Dust Loss: Meteoroid Streams and the Inner Solar System Dust Cloud
| author= D.W. Hughes
| page = 375
| isbn = 9789401156523
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5MH0CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA375
}}</ref>

The shower is visible from mid-July each year, with the peak in activity between 9 and 14 August, depending on the particular location of the stream. During the peak, the rate of meteors reaches 60 or more per hour. They can be seen all across the sky; however, because of the shower's radiant in the constellation of Perseus, the Perseids are primarily visible in the [[Northern Hemisphere]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html|publisher=timeanddate.com|title=Perseids Meteor Shower 2018
|access-date=2018-07-30}}</ref> As with many meteor showers the visible rate is greatest in the pre-dawn hours, since more meteoroids are scooped up by the side of the Earth moving forward into the stream, corresponding to local times between midnight and noon, as can be seen in the accompanying diagram.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://meteorshowersonline.com/what_is.html |title=what is a meteor shower |access-date=2015-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817222301/http://meteorshowersonline.com/what_is.html |archive-date=2015-08-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> While many meteors arrive between dawn and noon, they are usually not visible due to daylight. Some can also be seen before midnight, often [[Earth-grazing fireball|grazing the Earth's atmosphere]] to produce long bright trails and sometimes fireballs. Most Perseids burn up in the atmosphere while at heights above {{convert|80|km|mi}}.<ref name="Meteorwatch"/>

===Peak times===
{{Update|part=section|date=August 2025}}
[[File:The 2010 Perseids over the VLT.jpg|thumb|The 2010 Perseids over the [[ESO]]'s [[Very Large Telescope|VLT]]]]

{| style="margin:auto; clear:left" | class="wikitable"
! style="width:10%;"| Year
! style="width:25%;"| Perseids active between
! style="width:65%;"| Peak of shower
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |2025
| style="text-align: center;" |July 17 - August 24
|August 12–13 ([[Zenithal Hourly Rate|ZHR<sub>max</sub>]] 100)<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 Meteor Shower List |url=https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/2020-meteor-shower-list/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=American Meteor Society |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |2024
| style="text-align: center;" |July 17 - August 23
|The Perseid maximum occurred between the hours 13-16 Universal Time on August 12th
|-
|style="text-align:center;|2023
|style="text-align:center;|July 14 – Sep 01
|August 13 08:00 UT<ref name="AMS2023B"/> (8% [[Lunar phase#waningcrescent|Waning Crescent Moon]]). Earth may have crossed the [[Comet Swift–Tuttle#Historic observations|69 BCE trail]] around August 14 02:00 UT.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=IMOmeteors |number=1690642958645600256 |author=IMO Meteor Org |title=☄️☄️You think 2023 Perseid meteor show is over? It's not!<br/>Next night, Perseid meteor shower rates should remain decent, and there is a probability the Earth will cross a dust trail released from 109P/Swift-Tuttle in 68 BC on Aug. 14, between 01h and 02h45 UT. Keep on observing!}}</ref> The [[New Moon]] is on Aug 23
|-
|style="text-align:center;|2022
|style="text-align:center;|July 17 – August 24
|August 12–13 ([[full moon]] on Aug 12)
|-
|style="text-align:center;|2021
|style="text-align:center;|July 17 – August 24
|August 11–12 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 150)<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-08-14|title=Perseid meteor shower of 2021 thrills skywatchers|url=https://www.space.com/perseid-meteor-shower-2021-thrills-skywatchers|access-date=2024-08-12|website=Space.com|author=Elizabeth Howell|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|2020
|style="text-align:center;"|July 16 – August 23<ref name=rmg>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-23|title=Perseid meteor shower 2020: When and where to see it in the UK|url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/space-stargazing/meteors-comets-asteroids/Perseid-meteor-shower|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Royal Museums Greenwich|language=en}}</ref>
|August 12–13 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 100) (full moon on Aug 3)<ref name=rmg/>
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|2019
|style="text-align:center;"|July 17 – August 24
|August 12–13<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/space-stargazing/meteors-comets-asteroids/Perseid-meteor-shower|publisher=Royal Museums Greenwich|title=Perseid meteor shower 2019: When and where to see it in the UK|access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref> (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 80) (full moon on Aug 15)
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|2018
|style="text-align:center;"|July 17 – August 24
|August 11–13<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html|work=Space.com|title=Perseid Meteor Shower 2018: When, Where & How to See It|author=Sarah Lewin|date=July 9, 2018|access-date=20 July 2018}}</ref> (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 60)
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|2017
|style="text-align:center;"|July 17 – August 24
|August 12<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html|work=Space.com|title=Perseid Meteor Shower 2017: When, Where & How to See It|author=Sarah Lewin|date=July 26, 2017|access-date=27 July 2017}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|2016
|style="text-align:center;"|July 17 – August 24
|August 11–12 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/watchtheskies/perseid-meteor-shower-aug11-12.html|title=Perseid Meteor Shower 2016: When, Where & How to See It|access-date=2016-07-18}}</ref> (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 150)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2015
| style="text-align:center;"|July 17 – August 24
|August 12–13<ref name="p2012-13">{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/asteroids/best-meteor-showers/ |title=Meteor Showers 2015 |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=2015-08-09 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224031424/https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/asteroids/best-meteor-showers/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 95) (new moon on Aug 14)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2014
| style="text-align:center;"|July 17 – August 24
|August 13 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 68)<ref name="p2014">{{cite web |url=http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2014/ |title=Perseids 2014: visual data quicklook |publisher=Imo.net |date=2014-08-13 |access-date=2014-08-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024040047/http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2014/ |archive-date=2016-10-24 }}</ref> (full moon on Aug 10)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2013
| style="text-align:center;"|July 17 – August 24
|August 12 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 109)<ref name="p2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2013/ |title=Perseids 2013: visual data quicklook |publisher=Imo.net |date=2013-09-23 |access-date=2014-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024034856/http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2013/ |archive-date=2016-10-24 }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| style="text-align:center;"|July 17 – August 24
|August 12 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 122)<ref name="p2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2012/ |title=Perseids 2012: visual data quicklook |publisher=Imo.net |date=2012-10-22 |access-date=2014-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421081813/http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2012/ |archive-date=2014-04-21 }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2011
| style="text-align:center;"|July 17 – August 24
|August 12 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 58)<ref name="p2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2011/ |title=Perseids 2011: visual data quicklook |publisher=Imo.net |date=2011-10-06 |access-date=2014-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106001831/http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2011/ |archive-date=2013-11-06 }}</ref> (full moon on Aug 13)<ref name="NASA2010-385">{{cite web |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-385 |title=How to See the Best Meteor Showers of the Year: Tools, Tips and 'Save the Dates' |publisher=nasa.gov |access-date=2010-11-16 |archive-date=2012-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721000859/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-385 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2010
| style="text-align:center;"|July 23 – August 24
|August 12 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 142)<ref name="p2010">{{cite web |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-119 |title=How to See the Best Meteor Showers of the Year: Tools, Tips and 'Save the Dates' |publisher=nasa.gov |access-date=2010-08-12 |archive-date=2012-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721001352/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-119 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2009
| style="text-align:center;"|July 14 – August 24
|August 13 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 173) (The estimated peak was 173,<ref name="p2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2009/ |title=Perseids 2009: visual data quicklook |publisher=Imo.net |date=2010-04-26 |access-date=2009-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016083404/http://imo.net/live/perseids2009/ |archive-date=2016-10-16 }}</ref> but a [[lunar phase|gibbous Moon]] washed out fainter meteors.)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2008
| style="text-align:center;"|July 25 – August 24<ref name="p2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2008/ |title=Perseids 2008: visual data quicklook |publisher=Imo.net |date=2009-06-06 |access-date=2009-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024035510/http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2008/ |archive-date=2016-10-24 }}</ref>
| August 13 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 116)<ref name="p2008"/>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2007
| style="text-align:center;"|July 19 – August 25<ref name="p2007">[http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2007/ Perseids 2007: first results<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927041829/http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2007/ |date=2011-09-27 }}</ref>
| August 13 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 93)<ref name="p2007" />
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2006
|
| August 12/13 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 100)<ref>EAAS</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2005
|
| August 12 (ZHR <sub>max</sub> 90<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.imo.net/perseids-2005-visual/ | title=Perseids 2005, visual |work= IMO | date=August 25, 2005 }}</ref>)<ref>[https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/22jul_perseids2005 22jul_perseids2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009114458/https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/22jul_perseids2005 |date=October 9, 2021 }} ''NASA.gov''</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2004
| style="text-align:center;"|
| August 12 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> >200)<ref name=jimo37_5_161/>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1994
| style="text-align:center;"|
| (ZHR<sub>max</sub> >200)<ref name="Kronk">{{cite web |url=http://meteorshowersonline.com/perseids.html |title=Observing the Perseids |publisher=Meteor Showers Online |author=Gary W. Kronk |author-link=Gary W. Kronk |access-date=2009-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719001838/http://meteorshowersonline.com/perseids.html |archive-date=2018-07-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1993
| style="text-align:center;"|
| (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 200–500)<ref name="Kronk"/>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1992
| style="text-align:center;"|
| August 11 (outburst under a full moon on Aug 13)<ref name=Brown1992>{{cite journal |last1=Brown |title=The Perseids 1992. New outburst announces return of P/Swift-Tuttle |journal=WGN |year=1992 |volume=20 |issue=5 |page=192 |bibcode=1992JIMO...20..192B}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1883
| style="text-align:center;"|August 9 or earlier<ref name="Corder1883"/>
| August 11 (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 43)<ref name="Corder1883">{{cite journal |last1=Corder |first1=H |title=1883Obs.....6..338C Page 338 |journal=Adsabs.harvard.edu |date=22 October 1883 |volume=6 |page=338 |bibcode=1883Obs.....6..338C |url=http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1883Obs.....6..338C |access-date=3 November 2018}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1864
| style="text-align:center;"|
| (ZHR<sub>max</sub> >100)<ref name="Kronk"/>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1863
| style="text-align:center;"|
| (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 109–215)<ref name="Kronk"/>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1861
| style="text-align:center;"|
| (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 78–102)<ref name="Kronk"/>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1858
| style="text-align:center;"|
| (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 37–88)<ref name="Kronk"/>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1839
| style="text-align:center;"|
| (ZHR<sub>max</sub> 165)<ref name="Kronk"/>
|}

==Historical observations and associations==
[[File:Perseid meteor 2007.jpg|thumb|A Perseid in 2007]]
Some [[Catholicism|Catholics]] refer to the Perseids as the "tears of [[Lawrence of Rome|Saint Lawrence]]", suspended in the sky but returning to Earth once a year on August 10, the canonical date of that saint's martyrdom in 258 AD.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,729450,00.html |title=Science: Tears of St. Lawrence |magazine=TIME |date=1926-08-23 |access-date=2009-08-12 |archive-date=December 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218224321/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,729450,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[saint]] is said to have been burned alive on a gridiron. His manner of death is almost certainly the origin of the Mediterranean [[folk legend]] claiming that the shooting stars are the sparks of Saint Lawrence's [[martyrdom]]. The legend holds that during the night of August 9 to 10, cooled embers appear in the ground under plants; these embers are known as the "coal of Saint Lawrence."<ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.sanlorenzomaggiore.net/9-agosto-stelle-cadenti-e-carbone-sotto-il-basilico-8142.html Falling stars and coal under the basil] ''www.sanlorenzomaggiore.net''</ref><ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://balbianblog.blogspot.it/2007/08/il-carbone-di-san-lorenzo.html The Coal of Saint Lawrence] ''balbianblog.blogspot.it''</ref>

The transition in favor of the Catholic saint and his feast day on August 10, moving away from pagan gods and their festivals — a process known as [[Christianization of saints and feasts|Christianization]] — was facilitated by the phonetic assonance of the Latin name Laurentius with [[Acca Larentia]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://utestudents.blogspot.it/2015/08/summer-sky-4.html |title=SHOOTING STARS |publisher= utestudents BLOG}}</ref> a goddess previously celebrated during the summer period alongside [[Priapus]], as a fertility deity. Among the Romans, it was believed that the trails of the Perseids represented the benevolent rain of Priapus' seed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Powell |first=J. |title=Cosmic Debris |chapter=Observing Meteors and Meteor Showers |date=2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-51016-3 |pages= 179–216|chapter-url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51016-3_9 |access-date= |series=Astronomers' Universe |location=Cham |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-51016-3_9}}</ref> In this context, the god's [[cosmogonic]] phallus acted as a life-giver, blessing the fields and promoting fertility. During the same period, [[phallic processions]] and other sexual rites were common. Christianity, which had a different relationship with sexuality and generativity compared to [[Sexuality in ancient Rome|Greco-Roman culture]], replaced this sexual connotation with a reference to martyrdom.<ref>{{in lang|it}}{{cite web|access-date=14 August 2024 |archive-date=14 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614055717/http://www.informareonline.it/public/depliant.pdf |publisher=Associazione Turistica Pro Loco Ardea |title=Alla scoperta di Castrum Inui |url=http://www.informareonline.it/public/depliant.pdf}}<!-- auto-translated from Italian by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

In 1836, [[Adolphe Quetelet]] wrote: ''J'ai cru remarquer aussi une fréquence plus grande de ces météores au mois d'août (du 8 au 15)'' "I think I noticed also a greater frequency of these meteors in the month of August (from 8 to 15)."<ref name="AORB1836">''Annuaire de l'Observatoire Royal de Bruxelles'', Volume 4, 1836, [https://books.google.com/books?id=5jxTAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA272 p272] (In French)</ref> After studying historical records, he predicted a peak on 10 August. He then wrote to other astronomers, who confirmed this prediction on the night of 10 August 1837. Quetelet missed the shower due to bad weather.<ref name="Sauval">Sauval, J., "Quetelet and the Discovery of the First Meteor Showers", ''WGN, Journal of the International Meteor Organization'', {25} February 1997, pp [https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1997JIMO...25...21S 21–33]
</ref>

In 1866, after the [[perihelion]] passage of Swift–Tuttle in 1862, the Italian astronomer [[Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli]] discovered the link between meteor showers and comets.<ref name="Sauval"/> The finding is contained in an exchange of letters with [[Angelo Secchi]].

In 1992, Comet Swift–Tuttle returned to the Earth's vicinity, producing strong Perseid meteor outbursts in August 1991, 1992, and 1993, with peak rates of several hundred meteors per hour observed.<ref name="Perseid meteor storm" /> Finnish astronomer Esko Lyytinen calculated that the Earth could enter into an extra thick debris field left behind by Comet Swift–Tuttle in 2028, which could possibly produce a Perseids [[Meteor shower#meteor storm|meteor storm]] on the night of August 11–12, 2028. A peak rate of at least 1,000 meteors per hour is possible at the zenith, which was projected to be around 1:30 AM [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]] (05:30 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]) on August 12.<ref name="meteor storm">{{cite web|url=https://starwalk.space/en/news/meteor-storms|title=Meteor Storm: What Is It, And When Is The Next Meteor Outburst?|author=|work=Star Walk|publisher=Vito Technology, Inc.|date=8 February 2024|access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref><ref name="Perseid meteor storm">{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/perseid-meteor-shower-storm-2028|title=Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend — but 2028's show might be one for the ages|author=Joe Roe|website=[[Space.com]]|publisher=Future US, Inc.|date=7 August 2024|access-date=3 December 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Swift-Tuttle Comet Particles.jpg|thumb|Observation from the [[International Space Station]] at Earth orbit]]

==In popular culture==
In his 2006 novel ''[[Against the Day]]'', American novelist [[Thomas Pynchon]] refers to the Perseid meteor shower being watched by three characters west of the Dolores Valley after playing a game of [[tarot]].
In the TV series ''[[Curious George]]'', season 7 episode 1b, George and his friends Allie and Bill hunt for the Perseids, which they believe are creatures that look like purses. At the end of the episode, Allie's grandfather Mr. Renkins says that the Perseids is a meteor shower happening in early August.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Curious George: Bright Lights Little Monkey|url=https://www.ket.org/program/curious-george/monkey-down-under-bright-lights-little-monkey/}}</ref>

[[John Denver]]'s song "[[Rocky Mountain High]]" references the showers with the lyric, "I've seen it raining fire in the sky."

==See also==
*[[Leonids]], associated with the comet Tempel–Tuttle
*[[Asteroid impact prediction]]
*[[Earth-grazing fireball]]
*[[List of asteroid close approaches to Earth]]
*[[Meteoroid]]

==References==
{{Clear}}
{{Reflist|25em|refs=

<ref name="AMS2023">{{cite web
 |title        = 2023 Meteor Shower List
 |publisher    = [[American Meteor Society]] (AMS)
 |url          = https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/2020-meteor-shower-list/
 |accessdate   = 2023-08-05 }}</ref>

<ref name="AMS2023B">{{cite web
 |title        = Viewing the Perseid Meteor Shower in 2023
 |publisher    = [[American Meteor Society]] (AMS)
 |author       = Robert Lunsford
 |url          = https://www.amsmeteors.org/2023/08/viewing-the-perseid-meteor-shower-in-2023/
 |accessdate   = 2023-08-06 }}</ref>

<ref name=moore_rees2011>{{citation | first1=Patrick | last1=Moore | first2=Robin | last2=Rees | title=Patrick Moore's Data Book of Astronomy | edition=2nd | publisher=Cambridge University Press | date=2011 | isbn=978-0521899352 | page=275 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2FNfjWKBZx8C&pg=PA275}}</ref>

<ref name=jimo37_5_161>{{citation | display-authors=1 | last1=Żołądek | first1=P. | last2=Wiśniewski | first2=M. | last3=Olech | first3=A. | last4=Krasnowski | first4=M. | last5=Kwinta | first5=M. | last6=Fietkiewicz | first6=K. | last7=Złoczewski | first7=K. | last8=Mularczyk | first8=K. | last9=Jonderko | first9=W. | last10=Spaleniak | first10=I. | last11=Gruszka | first11=Ł. | title=The 2004 Perseid meteor shower – Polish Fireball Network double station preliminary results | journal=Journal of the International Meteor Organization | volume=37 | issue=5 | pages=161–163 |date=October 2009 | bibcode=2009JIMO...37..161Z}}</ref>

<ref name="Meteorwatch">{{cite web
  |date=2012-08-11
  |title=NASA All Sky Fireball Network: Perseid End Height
  |publisher=NASA Meteor Watch on Facebook
  |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=402054346520464
  |access-date=2012-11-19}}</ref>

}} <!-- end of reflist-->

== General and cited references ==
* Littman, Mark, ''The Heavens on Fire: The Great Leonid Meteor Storms'', Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998. {{ISBN|0521624053}}. Chapter 6, "The Discovery of the August Meteors", pp.&nbsp;83–100.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://gostargazing.co.uk/perseids Where to see the Perseids and public stargazing events in the UK (Go Stargazing)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170813061035/http://www.spacedex.com/perseids/ Worldwide viewing times for the 2016 Perseids meteor shower]
* [https://www.skymania.com/how-to-see-the-perseid-meteor-shower/ How to see the Perseid meteor shower in 2024] (Paul Sutherland)
* [https://www.skymania.com/how-to-photograph-a-meteor-shower/ How to photograph a meteor shower] (Skymania)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113107/http://www.amro-net.jp/meteor-info/08_perseids.htm Perseid Observing Conditions (The International Project for Radio Meteor Observation)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305071426/http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~hro/Flash/2014/PER/ 2014 Perseids Radio results] (RMOB)
* [http://www.nasa.gov/watchtheskies/perseids-2014.html Perseid Visibility Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417071234/https://www.nasa.gov/watchtheskies/perseids-2014.html |date=April 17, 2023 }} (2014 NASA Meteoroid Environment Office)
* [https://archive.today/20121216110017/http://www.realclearwx.com/july09.htm 2009 Perseid Meteor Fireball]
* [https://archive.today/20121212113325/http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2009/31jul_perseids2009/ NASA website on the Perseid shower of 2009]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120830114849/http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/Perseids-at-Their-Prime-165433206.html Sky & Telescope Magazine – Perseids at Their Prime]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161218124859/http://www.beskeen.com/gallery/misc/perseids/perseids.shtml 2012 Image of Perseids emanating from the radiant]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20171022144742/http://www.gmv.com/blog_gmv/what-are-the-perseids/ What are the perseids?]

{{Stars of Perseus}}
{{Meteor showers}}
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[[Category:July]]
[[Category:August]]
[[Category:Meteor showers]]
[[Category:Perseus (constellation)]]