The Perseid meteor shower, one of the brightest and most active meteor showers of 2025, will peak the night of August 12 through the morning of August 13.
Because a bright moon will obscure many fainter meteors, the peak night will not be the ideal viewing experience in Alabama. To maximize your chances of seeing meteors, consider viewing August 17-18, after the peak, when the moon rises later.
Here is a tutorial on the 2025 Perseids Meteor Shower from Space Time Scape:
You can also try positioning the moon behind an obstruction such as a tree or building to minimize its glare. Look for dark skies away from light pollution for the best views. Alabama viewers do not need any special equipment to view the Perseids. Binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view, but the naked eye is sufficient.
The Perseids can produce over 100 meteors per hour under dark skies, with bright streaks and fireballs.
The Perseids showers are caused by the Earth passing through debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the skies show His handiwork." - Psalm 19:1.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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