BBC Sky at Night

THE BIG THREE

DON'T MISS Perseids 2023

BEST TIME TO SEE: Nights of 12/13 and 13/14 August

The annual Perseid meteor shower reaches peak activity mid-August. The quality of the display that we’ll see during the peak is determined by two factors: the weather and the Moon.

You can’t do a great deal about the former, except monitor forecasts and relocate to a clear site if it looks like your location is going to be poor. The Moon is easier to predict; it’s either going to be a nuisance like it was in 2022, or it’s not.

This year, the Perseid meteor shower peak

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from BBC Sky at Night

BBC Sky at Night3 min read
Pick Of The Month
Best time to see: 31 July, 03:20 BST (02:20 UT) Altitude: 16° Location: Taurus Direction: East-northeast Features: Complex atmosphere, brighter moons Recommended equipment: 75mm scope or larger Morning planet Jupiter rises around 03:00 BST (02:00 UT)
BBC Sky at Night1 min read
The Kuiper Belt
The Kuiper Belt is believed to be made up of the icy leftovers from the Solar System's formation. It gets its name from Gerard Kuiper, who published a paper in 1951 speculating on the presence of objects in the space beyond Pluto, though astronomer K
BBC Sky at Night1 min read
Astro Adventures
The ‘Message of the Month’ writer will receive a bundle of two top titles courtesy of astronomy publisher Philip's: Nigel Henbest's Stargazing 2024 and Robin Scagell's Guide to the Northern Constellations Winner's details will be passed on to Octopus

Related Books & Audiobooks