Meteor shower guide

Perseid Meteor Shower: When to See Shooting Stars

The Perseids are a reliable annual meteor shower associated with warm northern summer nights.

Quick facts

Use these cues first, then confirm the pattern in the AR viewer.

Start with the brightest nearby objects, then compare Perseids with the AR overlay.

Altitude and direction change with latitude, longitude, date, and time.

If the phone compass drifts, adjust the heading controls until a known star pattern lines up.

The Perseids usually peak in August. The best viewing is often after midnight from a dark location with a wide open sky.

Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, but tracing them backward points toward the radiant in Perseus.

Use the AR map to identify Perseus and nearby constellations, then put the phone away to preserve night vision.

Short answers for common skywatching questions before opening the AR viewer.

Often yes if the key stars or object are bright enough, but haze, buildings, and light pollution can hide fainter details.

Mobile compass readings can drift near metal, cases, cars, and buildings. Use a known bright object to tune the heading offset.

Yes. The same object can be high, low, or below the horizon depending on your location and the current time.

Use these pages to move from reading into the AR viewer with better context.

Learn how date, time, and location shape the sky above you.

Check planets, the Moon, and bright objects before opening AR.

Understand camera, orientation, and compass alignment in the viewer.

Use the browser sky map to compare Perseids with the real sky from your location.