In the Northern Hemisphere, the Perseid meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, but they all seem to come from the constellation Perseus, which is why they’re called the Perseids. There’s a specific spot in the constellation where the meteors seem to originate, called the radiant. The higher the radiant rises, the more meteors you’ll see. So, if you want to catch as many “shooting stars” as possible, head out to a spot where the radiant is high in the sky.

The Perseids are best observed at mid-northern latitudes. There, the meteor shower’s radiant rises high in the sky around 22:30 local time. Unfortunately, the Perseid meteor shower cannot be properly seen from most parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

Apps to track the Perseids

Astronomical apps won’t let you miss the ideal time to watch the Perseids. Sky Tonight includes a special calendar showing the activity period and peak of each meteor shower. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to use the calendar in Sky Tonight.

The Star Walk 2 app also offers a list of upcoming meteor showers and can notify you when a shower is about to reach its peak. Watch our video tutorial on how to plan your meteor-hunting night with Star Walk 2.