# Perseids meteor shower 2026 and 2027

> When the Perseids peak in 2026 and 2027, how much moonlight there will be, and the best time to watch from the UK. Calculated, not copied.

URL: https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/perseids
Updated: 2026-10-30

The Perseids are active 17 July – 24 August each year, with a peak rate of about 100 meteors an hour under perfect dark skies. They come from comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle. In 2027 the peak falls on 12 August, with bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.

## Perseids peak dates for the UK

Peak times are worked out from the Sun's position along its path (the solar longitude the International Meteor Organization gives for the peak), so they are accurate to within a few hours. Real peaks can arrive early or late. 'Best time' is the hour when the radiant is highest while the sky is properly dark.

| Year | Peak (UK time) | Moon at peak | Best time from London |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 | Wed 12 August (around 17:47 BST) | New moon, 0% lit | 04:00 BST, radiant about 65° up |
| 2027 | Thu 12 August (around 23:34 BST) | Waxing gibbous, 84% lit | 04:00 BST, radiant about 65° up |

## What to expect

The rate of about 100 an hour is the zenithal hourly rate, a figure for a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead. From a UK garden you will usually see a third to a half of that, fewer near towns or under moonlight. Perseids enter the atmosphere at about 59 km per second.

The radiant in Perseus is up all night from the UK and climbs higher towards dawn, so rates rise through the night.

## History and origin

Britain's favourite shower: warm nights, high rates and bright, fast meteors, many with trains. In older Catholic tradition the Perseids were called the Tears of St Lawrence, because the peak falls near his feast day on 10 August.

The meteors are specks of dust shed by comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle. When Earth crosses that dust each year, the grains burn up about 80 to 100 km overhead.

## How to watch

- Find somewhere away from streetlights, ideally with a wide view of the sky. Our [UK dark sky spots by county](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/dark-skies) list designated places near you.
- Give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt, and keep your phone on a dim red screen.
- Lie back on a reclining chair and look about two-thirds of the way up the sky, not straight at the radiant.
- Dress for twice as cold as you expect, and bring a hot drink.
- Check the [moon calendar](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/moon-calendar) for the phase, and the weather forecast for cloud.

## Folklore and tradition

Shooting stars have long been seen as signs. A common British wish custom is to make a wish before the meteor fades and keep it secret. Others saw them as souls passing, or as a sign of good luck for the year. We share these as folklore, part of why people have always loved a night under the stars.

## Questions

**When do the Perseids peak in 2027?**

Around 12 August 2027, near 23:34 BST UK time. Watch the nights either side too.

**How many Perseids will I see?**

The peak rate is about 100 an hour under perfect skies. From a typical UK site, expect a fraction of that, depending on darkness and moonlight.

**Will the moon spoil the Perseids in 2027?**

At the 2027 peak the moon is 84% lit (waxing gibbous), so expect bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.

**What causes the Perseids?**

Dust from comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle, burning up as Earth passes through it.

**Do I need a telescope to see the Perseids?**

No. Meteors move too fast and across too much of the sky. Your eyes are the best instrument.

## Related

- [All meteor showers](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers)
- [Meteor shower calendar 2027](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/2027)
- [UK dark sky spots](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/dark-skies)
- [Moon calendar](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/moon-calendar)
- [UK stargazing calendar](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/guides/uk-stargazing-calendar-2026-27)

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