Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere will get their best chance this year to observe the Perseid meteor shower overnight 12–13 August, when the annual event reaches its peak. Under ideal dark-sky conditions the shower can yield up to 75 meteors an hour, generated by particles shed from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle as Earth crosses its orbit. Viewing conditions in 2025 will be less than perfect. An 84%-illuminated gibbous Moon will rise shortly after dusk and remain aloft through the night, adding natural light pollution that is expected to cut the number of meteors visible to the naked eye. Observers are advised to seek rural locations away from artificial lighting and allow at least 20 minutes for their eyes to adjust. The Perseids coincide this year with a close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on the mornings of 11–12 August, giving early risers an additional spectacle. The American Meteor Society notes that even with the bright Moon, the Perseids often produce occasional fireballs—exceptionally bright meteors that can outshine the lunar glare.