Perseid Meteor Shower 2026 – Stargazing at Halde Norddeutschland

The Perseids

Every summer, Earth passes through material left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

Small particles enter Earth's atmosphere at very high speed and create the streaks of light we see as meteors.

The Perseids are one of the best-known annual meteor showers and reach their peak around 12–13 August.

Very good conditions tonight

The timing this year is especially good.

The Moon is essentially at New Moon, with only around 0.1% illumination.

That means almost no moonlight interfering with the darker sky, which gives us much better conditions for seeing fainter meteors.

We meet at 23:00 and stay into the night as the activity develops.

How to watch

You do not need a telescope for a meteor shower. Meteors can appear across a large part of the sky, so the best way to watch is simply to find a comfortable position and look up.

Give your eyes some time to adjust to the darkness and try to keep bright phone screens to a minimum once we settle down.

Sometimes several meteors appear close together. Sometimes the sky stays quiet for a few minutes. That is completely normal.

What to bring

• A blanket or mat to sit or lie on
• Snacks and drinks if you want them
• Water
• A jacket or hoodie for later

The weather should stay comfortable through the night, with temperatures staying above 14°C.

So it should be a very manageable summer night outside, but a light jacket will probably feel good once we have been sitting still for a while.

What to expect

• The Perseid meteor shower close to its annual peak
• Almost no moonlight
• A wide view of the night sky from the Halde
• Bright meteors and the possibility of occasional fireballs
• A relaxed night outside with no fixed finishing time

More information

NASA — Perseid Meteor Shower

Timeanddate — Perseid Meteor Shower