Shooting star spectacle in the sky: expect 60 meteors per hour!

Shooting star spectacle in the sky: expect 60 meteors per hour!

On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, more precisely on August 11, 2025, a celestial spectacle awaits us: the peak of the Perseid meteor shower is imminent. Up to 60 meteors per hour could be observed in the sky, but whether we actually see anything depends entirely on the weather conditions. However, according to the German Weather Service, the prospects for most regions in Germany are positive; Good conditions are expected, especially in the middle and south of the country, where only isolated clouds could be visible. North of a line from Bremen to Berlin it will be a little more cloudy, but it will stay dry everywhere.

The temperatures at night are between 13 and 20 degrees Celsius, making for a pleasant night of observation. A small downside, however, is the bright light of the almost full moon, which rises higher during the night and could affect the view of fainter meteors. It's still worth taking a look at the sky, because the Perseids offer an impressive spectacle.

The origin of the Perseids

The meteors we can now marvel at come from Comet 109 P/Swift-Tuttle. This comet was discovered independently by Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle in 1862 and orbits the Sun every 133 years. The last time this was the case was in 1992; the closest approach is expected in 2125. Earth crosses the comet's path during the annual Perseid meteor shower, active from July 17 to August 24, and encounters the scattered bits of dust the comet leaves behind on its journey. These particles collide with the Earth's atmosphere at speeds of 30 to 35 km/s, causing them to glow due to the friction and becoming visible as shooting stars.

The name “Perseids” comes from the constellation Perseus, in which the radiant of meteors is located. However, these meteors appear all over the sky, but their path can be traced back to the constellation. The best viewing window is around 10:30 p.m. local time, when the radiant is higher, increasing the visibility of meteors.

Tips for observation

To fully enjoy the Perseids experience, it is recommended to go to a place with no light pollution and avoid the moonlight rays. It's best to use a deck chair or mat to enjoy the night comfortably. To get the best results, you should allow at least an hour for observation and be careful not to look directly at the radiant - it is helpful to relax your eyes and take breaks in between.

In 2025, the peak of the Perseids could be particularly impressive, with Earth hitting the ancient dust trail after 6 a.m. CEST on August 12, potentially increasing the number of sightings. So we can look forward to an exciting night that almost coincides with the feast of Saint Lawrence, who was executed on August 10, 258 AD.

So don't stay at home, get out into nature! With a little luck and the right perspective, we could soon witness a real star fire.