Cosmic junkies are in for an absolute treat this winter, with what NASA has dubbed “the best meteor shower of the year” almost here. In 2025, the Perseid meteor shower is set to peak over northern Australian skies on August 12 or 13. While the Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, stargazers in northern Australia may still catch a glimpse of the show. Here’s what you need to know about seeing the Perseid meteor shower in 2025.
When is the Perseid meteor shower in Australia?
The Perseids turn up every August, with the 2025 meteor shower active between July 17 and August 23. The meteor shower results from Earth passing through trails of debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet, which last travelled close to Earth in 1992.
In Australia, you can expect to see up to 100 shooting stars per hour when the Perseids peak pre-dawn (between 3am and 5am) on Tuesday, August 12 or Wednesday, August 13. These meteors travel at a whopping 59 kilometres per second – that’s 500 times faster than the world’s speediest car – so you’ll have to pay close attention. You can find the best viewing time in your city here.
How to see the Perseid meteor shower in Australia?
While the Perseids shine far brighter in the Northern Hemisphere, they should still be visible in northern parts of Australia. That’s good news for stargazers in northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland – however, viewing may be disrupted by the almost full moon. Unfortunately, those in the southern parts of Australia will most likely miss out on seeing the Perseid meteor shower this time around.
According to EarthSky’s astronomers, there’s “no need to watch a specific spot in the sky, (as) meteors will be shooting all different directions.” Attempting to watch the meteor shower through binoculars or a telescope is not recommended, as you’ll want to take in as much of the sky as possible. For prime viewing conditions, find a place far away from artificial city lights and give your eyes enough time (30-45 minutes) to adjust to the dark.
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