Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend: How To Watch In VA

VIRGINIA — If the weather cooperates in Virginia, 2023 could be a stellar year to take in the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks this weekend.

The moon won’t interfere with the Perseids, known as one of the best meteor shows of the year with between 50-100 shooting stars an hour at the peak and a good possibility of fireballs.

The Perseids are building in intensity for peak Friday and Saturday. Weather conditions in the Washington, D.C., region look somewhat favorable, with partly cloudy skies forecast both nights. The only natural light interference will come from a thin crescent moon — a far different story than last year, when the harsh light of a nearly full moon washed out all but the brightest meteors.

When it comes to brilliance, only the Geminid meteor shower in December rivals the Perseids. Both are known for swift, bright meteors that frequently leave behind long “wakes” of light and color, according to NASA.

Both are also known for fireballs, larger explosions of light and color that are brighter than typical meteors and whose “tails” last longer than typical meteor streaks. That’s because, NASA explains, fireballs come from larger particles of cometary material.

• Related: 2023 VA Guide To Meteor Showers, Supermoons And Full Moons

The big difference between the shooting star shows from the skywatcher’s vantage point is the difference between summer and winter. Regardless of the meteor shower, stargazers are rewarded by their patience, something many have in more abundance on warm summer versus cold winter nights.

If you can, find a dark sky location to watch for meteors. Most meteors will fly during predawn hours, though it’s possible to see them any time after 10 p.m. during the peak, according to NASA.

Virginia State Parks has four parks designated as International Dark Sky Parks by the International Dark-Sky Association: Staunton River, James River, Natural Bridge and Sky Meadows.

Other sports for star-gazing include: Assateague Island National Seashore, Grayson Highlands State Park, James River State Park, Meadows of Dan, Natural Bridge State Park, Natural Chimneys Park, Rappahannock County Park, and Shenandoah National Park, according to Space Tourism Guide.

Also, the American Meteor Society notes, “the more stars you see, the more meteors will also be visible.”

The shooting stars may not all be from the Perseids. This summertime favorite intersects with the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, which continues through Aug. 21. The Perseids continue through Sept. 1.

Also, meteors randomly fly in the sky but don’t always seem to originate from a particular star or constellation. The Perseids, no matter where they’re seen in the sky, trace back to the radiant point of the constellation of Perseus. The meteor shower is a tiny piece of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 135 years, according to NASA.