Peaking in mid-August ( Aug. 12 ), NASA considers this “the best meteor shower of the year,” noting, “With swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long ‘wakes’ of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth’s atmosphere.”

August 2025 is packed with brilliant sights for stargazers, from planet groupings before dawn to shimmering meteor trails at night. Here’s your guide.

AMS says the best time to see any meteor shower is between midnight and dawn. According to NASA, the Perseids can be seen as early as 10 p.m. Go Astronomy lists some of the best places for seeing the night sky without light pollution in Mississippi.