The Perseid meteor shower is active from mid-July until late August, with the shower expected to reach peak activity on the night of August 12 and early morning of August 13.
The Perseid meteor shower is an annual event, occurring each year from about July 17 to August 24, and it's known for being one of the brightest and most active meteor showers of the year.
The Perseids are known for producing bright meteors and fireballs, caused by Earth passing through debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, according to Space.com
Will the 2025 Perseid meteor shower be visible in Louisiana?
The Perseid meteor shower is visible from the Northern Hemisphere.
The 2025 Perseid meteor shower will be best viewed in a dark sky, away from city lights, with the best viewing time during the predawn hours after midnight.
Under dark skies, observers can expect to see around 25 meteors per hour outside of the peak, and possibly 90 or more per hour during the peak, says EarthSky.
Will bright moonlight interfere with visibility of the meteor shower?
Tuesday night, a waning gibbous moon will brighten the skies while the meteors reach peak activity. This means that stargazers could see fewer meteors than on typical dark night.
Instead of between 40 and 50 meteors per hour, observes are now likely to see 10 to 20 per hour or fewer. This is because a bright moon will be washing out fainter meteors, according to NASA.
Despite the bright moon obscuring viewing, the best time to see meteors will be between midnight and dawn, or between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., and make sure to look anywhere but at the moon.
What will the weather be like in Louisiana during the Perseid Meteor Shower?
In Northwest Louisiana, on Aug. 12 at around 11 p.m., skies will be mostly clear with a 10% cloud cover. From 12 a.m. until 2 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 13, chances of rain remain low and cloud cover will remain at about 10%, according to AccuWeather.
In South Louisiana, on Aug. 12 at about 11 p.m., skies will be partly cloudy with a 46% cloud cover and a 51% chance of rain. During the early morning of Aug. 13, from 12 a.m. until 2 a.m., cloud cover will remain at 46% and the chance of rain ranges from 40 to 20%, according to AccuWeather.
Best places to view meteor show in Louisiana with no light pollution
Light pollution from cities can significantly hinder viewing, therefore, finding a dark, rural location will better your chances of seeing more meteors.
Locations in Louisiana where views of the sky won't be hindered by light pollution include:
Kisatchie National Forest
North Toledo Bend State Park
South Toledo Bend State Park
Highland Road Park Observatory in Baton Rouge
Tensas River National Wildlife Reserve
Cypremort Point State Park
Catahoula Lake
Black Bayou National Wildlife Reserve
Alexander State Forest
Palmetto Island State Park
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Will the Perseid Meteor Shower be visible in Louisiana? What to know
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