Wednesday, August 12, was already set to be marked by the solar eclipse. On the same day, the sky has a second spectacle in store: the night of the Perseids’ peak, one of the most eagerly awaited meteor showers of the year— and 2026 brings conditions that aren’t seen every year.
What are the Perseids, and when do they occur?
The Perseids are a meteor shower associated with Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Every year, between mid-July and late August, Earth passes through the cloud of dust and small fragments left behind by the comet along its orbit, which disintegrate in the atmosphere at high speed and create the trails of light known as shooting stars.
This year , the peak of activity is concentrated on the night of August 12–13, with viewing possible starting at 10 p.m., but the highest intensity is expected during the window between midnight and dawn, especially between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.
The big advantage this year is the New Moon, also on August 12, which guarantees a completely dark sky, with no moonlight to compete with the faintest meteors. Under ideal conditions, astronomers predict between 60 and 100 meteors per hour.
You can also see it in Lisbon
No telescope or special equipment is needed: just look up at the sky with the naked eye, preferably away from direct light, and let your eyes adjust to the darkness for a few minutes.
Within the city itself, there are darker spots to consider, such as larger parks away from streetlights; but anyone who can leave Lisbon will find much better conditions in nearby mountains and rural areas, far from the capital’s light pollution.
If the sky is cloudy that night, the meteor shower remains active in the following days, so the nights of August 11–12 and August 13–14 may also be worth watching.
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