The Perseid meteor shower will reach its 2026 maximum during the night of August 12–13, with the International Meteor Organization placing the nominal peak between 02:00 and 04:00 UTC on August 13. A New Moon on August 12 will eliminate lunar interference, providing excellent conditions for optical observations.
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on the night of May 5-6, but strong moonlight will sharply reduce visible rates during this year’s maximum. Under ideal dark skies, the shower can produce up to about 50 meteors per hour, but bright moonlight in 2026 is expected to keep observed rates below 5 meteors per hour.
The exact moonrise time varies with longitude, so optimal viewing intervals depend on local conditions. After moonrise, observers can continue viewing by facing westward to minimize lunar glare.
