Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend: How To Watch In NJ

NEW JERSEY — If the weather cooperates in the Garden State, 2023 could be a stellar year to take in the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks this weekend.

The moon won’t interfere with the Perseids, known as one of the best meteor shows of the year with between 50-100 shooting stars an hour at the peak and a good possibility of fireballs.

The Perseids are building in intensity for peak Friday and Saturday. Weather conditions in New Jersey look more favorable on Friday night and early Saturday morning, according to forecasters.

AccuWeather predicts that scattered severe thunderstorms could affect the northern part of the state during the day on Saturday. The chance of storms “will gradually dissipate after sunset,” added the National Weather Service. However, isolated showers and storms will remain possible into the overnight hours – so, Saturday night stargazers may want to have their weather app handy, too.

The only natural light interference will come from a thin crescent moon — a far different story than last year, when the harsh light of a nearly full moon washed out all but the brightest meteors.

When it comes to brilliance, only the Geminid meteor shower in December rivals the Perseids. Both are known for swift, bright meteors that frequently leave behind long “wakes” of light and color, according to NASA.

Both are also known for fireballs, larger explosions of light and color that are brighter than typical meteors and whose “tails” last longer than typical meteor streaks. That’s because, NASA explains, fireballs come from larger particles of cometary material.

• Related: 2023 Guide To Meteor Showers, Supermoons And More

The big difference between the shooting star shows from the skywatcher’s vantage point is the difference between summer and winter. Regardless of the meteor shower, stargazers are rewarded by their patience, something many have in more abundance on warm summer versus cold winter nights.

The Perseids are most active in the predawn hours, though it’s possible to see them as early as 10 p.m., according to NASA. For the best views, skywatchers should lie flat on their back under a dark sky free of city lights.

Also, the American Meteor Society notes, “the more stars you see, the more meteors will also be visible.”

If you can, find a dark sky location to watch for meteors. There aren't any in New Jersey that are designated as part of the International Dark Sky Places Program, though there are a few in the Northeast.

If you head to Pennsylvania's Cherry Springs State Park in Coudersport (Potter County), you can experience the meteor showers in the remote, 82-acre park. Other dark sky locations on the East Coast include the Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, and the Maryland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The shooting stars may not all be from the Perseids. This summertime favorite intersects with the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, which continues through Aug. 21. The Perseids continue through Sept. 1.

Also, meteors randomly fly in the sky but don’t always seem to originate from a particular star or constellation. The Perseids, no matter where they’re seen in the sky, trace back to the radiant point of the constellation of Perseus. The meteor shower is a tiny piece of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 135 years, according to NASA.

Patch’s national desk contributed to this report.