Vivid Astronomical Event: Perseid Meteor Shower Persists Through Wednesday Night
The Perseid meteor shower is set to dazzle stargazers across Ireland tonight, with an expected display of up to 100 meteors per hour under favorable conditions. This astronomical event, known as the Perseids, is continuing in Irish skies on Wednesday night (August 13, 2025).
Astronomer Danielle Wilcox from Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork, encourages those who have never seen 'shooting stars' to get out and see the Perseids. She remarks that this is a good time for people to experience this awe-inspiring celestial event.
The Perseid meteors are caused by dust particles shed by the comet Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 years to orbit the sun. As Earth moves through the debris cloud of the comet Swift-Tuttle during this time of year, the Perseids become one of the most celebrated astronomical events.
The shower is active for several weeks, but it peaks on the night of August 12-13, with the highest intensity just after 3am on August 13. However, the best time to view the Perseids is from dusk until dawn.
David Moore from astronomy.ie advises stargazers to ensure they are comfortable while looking up to avoid discomfort from standing with a craned neck for extended periods. He also suggests looking anywhere in the sky, including clear patches among clouds, and standing with your back to the moon to avoid being dazzled.
The moon is in the sky during this event, which could affect the view for those in the countryside, but suburban viewers will still get the same view. However, moonlight (a waning gibbous with ~80% illumination) may reduce visibility of fainter meteors this year.
Met Eireann has forecast a humid night with clear spells on Wednesday, but a few showers are possible, some of which could be heavy or thundery. Stargazers are advised to keep an eye on the weather forecast and choose a suitable location for their viewing experience.
The paths of the Perseid meteors will all point back to the constellation Perseus, but you do not have to look at Perseus to see the meteors. Dublin, like the rest of Ireland and all of Europe, will have a similar view of the Perseids.
The Perseids were last seen in Irish skies in 1992. This year, observers in Ireland can expect from 100 to possibly 150 meteors per hour at peak, but 100 is a commonly cited figure for visibility in good conditions. Some sources mention up to 150 meteors per hour crossing the sky, but the number visible to an observer may be closer to 100 due to horizon obstruction and moonlight.
Mr. Moore reported receiving counts of meteors seen every 15 minutes from 10:30 pm onwards on Tuesday night. Those who missed the shower last night still have a chance to witness this spectacular celestial event tonight. So, grab a comfortable chair, find a dark spot, and look up to the sky for a mesmerizing display of shooting stars.
Science enthusiasts and environmental-science students alike are urged to make use of this rare opportunity to witness the Perseid meteor shower, a significant event in the field of space-and-astronomy. Even the weather, while predicted to be humid with clear spells, is expected to clear up just in time for the best viewing period, from dusk until dawn, on Wednesday night.
