BREAKING: Perseids Meteor Shower and Possible Northern Lights Set to Light Up Skies Tonight
Skywatchers are in for a rare double treat tonight as the Perseids meteor shower—one of the year’s most dazzling celestial events—coincides with a potential Northern Lights display, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
When to Watch the Perseids
The Perseids peaked yesterday afternoon, but the best viewing opportunities will be in two windows tonight:
- Evening Window (Aug. 12–13) – Roughly an hour of dark skies after dusk before the bright waning gibbous moon rises.
- Pre-Dawn Window (Aug. 13) – The last couple of hours before sunrise, when the most vivid meteors may be visible by facing north toward the constellation Perseus.
Due to bright moonlight, expect 10–20 meteors per hour—less than the usual 40–50—but bright fireballs will still be visible.
Aurora Alert
Thanks to solar wind streams from coronal holes, auroral activity could spike tonight. Northern regions such as Alaska and northern Canada may witness shimmering green and purple skies if conditions remain clear. The Kp index is projected around 3.67, with a small chance of a G1 geomagnetic storm.
Other Celestial Highlights
- Venus and Jupiter: Still shining brightly together in the eastern sky before sunrise.
- Saturn: Rising before midnight near the moon, adding to tonight’s spectacle.
Viewing Tips
- Head to a dark location far from city lights.
- Give your eyes 30 minutes to adjust.
- Dress warmly, bring a chair or blanket, and look north for auroras or 40° above Perseus for meteors.
The next major meteor shower, the Orionids, will peak on October 22–23.