Each month of August, a celestial phenomenon punctuates the summer nights with its magical brilliance: Persures of our eyes. This rain of shooting stars, one of the most intense and spectacular of the year, will soon reach its peak of activity during a Night of August. Astronomy lovers will be able to hope until 100 shooting stars per hourprovided you choose the right time and a place far from any light pollution.
Even if the conditions will not be perfect this year due to the presence of the Moon, the beauty of the phenomenon remains there. This natural spectacle, accessible to the naked eye, attracts thousands of enthusiasts every year, curious, dreamers and photographers in search of a Magic night under the stars.
Perseids: an essential celestial phenomenon
Perseids are caused by the passage of the earth in a dust cloud comet Swift-Tuttlewhose orbit meets that of our planet every year at the same period. By entering the earth’s atmosphere at more than 200,000 km/h, these particles produce impressive, sometimes very long and colorful light streaks. We then talk aboutshooting stars or from carswhen the brightness is particularly intense.
The name “Perseids” comes from the Perseus constellationfrom which the meteors seem to come. This radiant, clearly visible in the northeast sky from midnight, is gradually rising in height over the night, offering an optimal angle of observation between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.. It is a simple natural phenomenon to observe, which does not require any specific equipment, which contributes to its popularity.
What day should you observe the shooting stars in August 2025?
In 2025, the Perseid activity peak is scheduled for the night of Tuesday 12 to Wednesday August 13with a maximum of around 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. French time. This means that the Ideal moment to observe the shooting stars will be in the second half of the night, between midnight and dawn. It is at this moment that the radiant is the highest in the sky and that the meteors are the most numerous.
Although the peak technically occurs in the morning of the 13th, the previous hours (in particular Between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.) will offer the best visibility conditions. The sky is darker at these hours, atmospheric agitation is lower, and the fatigue of artificial lights of the day gives way to an atmosphere conducive to contemplation.
