Travel

Want to see a meteor shower? When Perseids will peak

Detroit Free Press · Jul 21, 2026 20:29 · 4 min read

The 2023 Perseid meteor shower seen from the southern edge of Sequoia National Forest near Piute Peak.

The Perseid meteor shower will peak overnight Aug. 12-13, and is active until Aug. 24 in Michigan skies.

Skygazers, mid-August will bring your chance to be captivated by the pinnacle of the year's most popular meteor shower as it streaks over Michigan skies.

The annual Perseids will peak overnight on Aug. 12-13, leaving bursts of light and color up above as meteors whiz by throughout the night over Michigan.

But you don't have to wait; the Perseid meteor shower is already active, and on a clear night, you can get a closer look at one of Michigan's dark sky areas.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Looking for a telescope? Shop here

Here's what to know about the Perseids.

When do the Perseids peak?

The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak overnight Aug. 12-13, with a new moon to allow for optimal dark skies for viewing, per Space.com and the University of Arizona's College of Science Lunar & Planetary Laboratory's Catalina Sky Survey.

The Perseids are active from July 17 to Aug. 24.

What is the Perseid meteor shower?

The Perseids is a strong, fast meteor shower featuring about 50 to 100 meteors per hour, per NASA. Bright meteors and fireballs, very bright meteors, frequently streak across the night sky, creating a path of light and color overhead.

The meteors appear to come from the area of the constellation Perseus in the sky, NASA says, though the meteors can be seen in any part of the night sky, per the American Meteor Society.

How can you see the Perseids in Michigan?

To ensure the best chance of viewing this meteor shower, here are a few things the American Meteor Society, USA TODAY, BBC Sky at Night Magazine and Space.com recommend:

Go to a dark area away from light pollution.
Allow about 30 minutes to let your eyes adjust to the dark.
Bring a deck chair or reclining chair to sit comfortably as you watch the meteors.
Select an open viewing area for an unobstructed look at the sky.
Avoid looking at phones or bright lights.
Keep your eyes up on the sky to catch fast meteors, visible for a second or two as they whizz through the sky.
Dress comfortably, warm for cold nights and bring a blanket.
Keep a hot drink, water and snacks and bug spray with you.

What causes the Perseids?

Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through dusty debris trails left by comets and broken asteroid bits as they orbit the sun, NASA says. The debris collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.

The meteors in the Perseid meteor shower come from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a large comet discovered by American astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle in 1862, per NASA. Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli uncovered the comet as the source of the Perseids in 1865.

When is the best time to view the Perseids?

The best time to watch the Perseids in the Northern Hemisphere is in the predawn hours, though meteors may be visible as early as 10 p.m., the space agency says.

Where can you watch the Perseids in Michigan?

Look for a clear, open area to view the meteors in Michigan's skies. Keep an eye on the weather forecast closer to the peak to find out local viewing chances.

Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary.

The Alpena area has three Dark Sky Preserves: Rockport State Recreation Area, Thompson's Harbor State Park and Negwegon State Park.
In Mackinaw City, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, 15675 Headlands Road.
In Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front St.
In Munising, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
In Paradise, the Great Lakes Museum and Whitefish Point Light Station, 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road, and Tahquamenon Falls State Park at 41382 W. M-123.
In Port Austin, Port Crescent State Park, 1775 Port Austin Road.
In Clayton, Lake Hudson Recreation Area, 5505 Morey Hwy.
In Carp Lake, Wilderness State Park, 903 Wilderness Park Drive.
Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Keweenaw County and Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in Cass County are international spots. And, finally, the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area is an international sanctuary.

How did the Perseid meteor shower get its name?

The name Perseid meteor shower, or Perseids, comes from the Greek Perseidai, or sons of Perseus, referring to Greek mythology, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Meteor, meteorites, meteoroids — which is it?

Those are words that sound similar, but there are important differences.

Meteoroid: A body in space. Asteroids are larger rocks in space, but there's no official distinction.
Meteor: A body passing through the atmosphere. If the meteor is large enough to show some dimensions or sparks, it's often called a fireball.
Meteorite: A meteor that survives the fall to the Earth's surface.
Meteor shower: When we see a lot of meteors streaking across the sky in a small amount of time, usually a matter of a few days.