The Perseid meteor shower is active between 17 July and 24 August this year, and will reach its peak on 13 August. It is estimated that the local maximum hourly rate of the meteor shower can reach up to 20 during the suggested observation period. The radiant of the Perseid meteor shower will rise in the northeast at about 10 pm. More meteors could be seen when the radiant is at a higher altitude. As the peak lies on the 30th day of the lunar calendar, there will be no moonlight influence, resulting in favourable observation conditions.

The parent body of the Perseid meteor shower is a comet called 109P/Swift–Tuttle. When it travels through the Solar System, a large amount of debris is left. When the Earth passes through these debris in space as it orbits around the Sun, a large amount of debris falls into the Earth's atmosphere, forming a meteor shower. Since these debris are from the same origin, all meteors emanate from the same point called the radiant. When the radiant of the meteor shower is in the constellation Perseus, we call this meteor shower as the Perseid meteor shower.

Information about Local Observation Suggestion* of Perseid meteor shower 2026:

* Local Observation Suggestion is derived from the Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR), the effect of sunlight and moonlight, radiant altitude at peak hour, and light pollution levels in Hong Kong, in which the observation period is suggested and the local maximum hourly rate is estimated. Local Observation Condition is estimated by the effect of moonlight during maximum and whether the altitude of the radiant is favourable to Hong Kong. It is divided into five levels, which are "Excellent", "Favourable", "Fair", "Unfavourable" and "Poor".

Replay the live streaming of the Perseid meteor shower 2026 on HKSpM YouTube Channel.

Here are some tips for watching the Perseid meteor shower:

1. There are still a certain number of meteors around the peak period. 1-2 days before and after the peak period is also suitable for observation as long as the weather is fine.
2. Meteors do not necessarily appear near the radiant, and most of the meteors are dim. Observers should choose a site with a large unobstructed view and low light pollution. Staying away from other light sources can help your eyes become more sensitive to light.
3. Basically, a telescope is not required as meteors are better observed by naked eyes. You may bring along with you a star-map, a red torch, a deck chair and a sleeping bag or blanket. Please observe stargazing manner and refrain from using excessive light as this will affect other stargazers.
4. To photograph meteors, a camera with long-exposure function and a wider angle lens are essential. After focusing on starlight, point the camera to the zenith or the darkest area on the sky and set an appropriate aperture and ISO value (such as F2.8 or lower, ISO 800 or higher, depending on the design of the lens and camera, as well as the nearby environment). Then select the time of exposure based on whether a star tracker is used. In general, a longer exposure gives you a higher chance of capturing unexpected meteors. For long exposure you may consider stepping down the aperture to say, F4 or F8 and ISO value to 400 for better image quality. The star image distortion due to camera shaking can be solved by using a remote control or the self-timer function on the camera.