Skywatchers will get their best chance of the year to see the Perseid meteor shower when it peaks overnight on 12–13 August. Under ideal, moonless conditions the Perseids can deliver 50–75 meteors an hour, generated as debris from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle slams into Earth’s upper atmosphere at roughly 133,000 mph. Visibility in 2025 will be compromised by an 84 percent-lit waning gibbous Moon that rises soon after nightfall and remains aloft until dawn, washing out all but the brightest fireballs. Astronomers expect meteor counts to fall sharply, although the American Meteor Society says occasional bright streaks should still punch through the glare. The meteor peak follows closely on the full Sturgeon Moon, which reaches maximum illumination at 3:55 a.m. Eastern Time on 9 August. Three days later, before sunrise on 12 August, Venus and Jupiter will appear less than a degree apart, giving observers an additional target while waiting for meteors. NASA recommends viewing from rural sites far from artificial light, allowing 20–30 minutes for eyes to adjust and avoiding phone screens. A brief window on the evening of 15 August—when the Moon sets earlier—may offer darker skies for anyone who misses the main event.