Will Ohio weather cooperate for Perseids meteor shower peak this week? See the forecast

The Perseid meteor shower — one of the best of the year, according to NASA — treats stargazers to plentiful bright meteors streaking swiftly through the atmosphere and colorful exploding fireballs. But the peak of the celestial event will be competing with the moon this year.

A waning gibbous moon will compromise the period of maximum activity for the Perseids, according to the American Meteor Shower Society. These conditions will reduce visible activity by at least 75%, and only the brightest meteors will be visible. People counting these “shooting stars” might see about 10 to 20 per hour instead of the typical 50 to 100.

And Ohio’s notoriously fickle weather also will complicate things.

But don’t lose hope, stargazer! You can follow these tips to increase your chances of a spectacular show:

Where to get the best view of the Perseid meteor shower

Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.

The Perseid meteor shower, among the most beautiful in the Northern Hemisphere, is expected to peak on the evenings of Aug. 12 and 13, and will be visible through Aug. 23.

The best viewing times may be after midnight and just before dawn, although experts suggest going outside as early as 10 p.m. ET to get the most out of the experience, according to the Weather Channel.

Rural areas often see between 50 and 75 meteors per hour, according to the American Meteor Society. To get a view of it, look toward the northeast and the constellation Perseus.

Ohio weather forecast for Perseid meteor shower peak

The weather forecast in Ohio is looking iffy the nights that the meteor shower peaks, according to the National Weather Service forecast for Akron, Columbus and Cincinnati. But the skies will clear later in the week.

In the Akron area, the NWS forecast is calling for a chance of thunderstorms the nights of Aug. 12 and 13, when the Perseids peak. The night skies will be mostly clear on Thursday, Aug. 14, when the meteor shower will still be active.

The Columbus area also has a chance of thunderstorms both nights, per NWS, with mostly clear skies on Aug. 14.

And in Cincinnati, thunderstorms on Aug. 12 and 13 have a small chance of carrying over into the night of Aug. 14.

The best places to view Perseid meteor showers in Ohio

So where are the best places to go in Ohio to see the Perseid meteor showers? The International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) program, an internationally recognized organization that certifies communities, parks and protected areas around the world that preserve dark skies, has two suggestions. The IDSP-designated dark sky places in Ohio are:

Other dark sky destinations around Ohio, according to Ohio Magazine, include:

• Burr Oak State Park: The nearest village is four miles away and has a population of less than 2,000, so it produces little light pollution.

• Stonelick State Park: The night skies here are some of the darkest in Ohio, according to the magazine, and it’s a common destination for Cincinnati-area stargazers.

• Wayne National Forest: Per the magazine, the isolated Lamping Homestead Recreation Area is arguably the darkest site in Ohio’s only national forest.

Profile of Perseids bright fireball activity

This chart uses data from 2014-2020 to show expected levels of Perseid meteor shower activity— it does not take into account the effects of the sun, moon and clouds, according to NASA.

Where did the Perseids originate from?

The Perseid meteor shower comes from the Comet Swift-Tuttle. American astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle discovered the comet in 1862, according to NASA. The well-known Perseid meteor shower is formed when space debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet interacts with our atmosphere.

Which meteor shower has the brightest meteors?

The Perseid and Geminid meteor showers are typically regarded as the most active and most beautiful. It is easier to watch the Perseids on warm August nights, compared to the Geminids, which are active on cold December days.

Tips to get the best views of the meteor shower

Tips on how to catch the best views of a meteor shower, according to EarthSky:

◾Location, location, location: Find a spot away from city lights, locate the radiant in the sky and get comfortable.

◾No lights: Your eyes will need to adjust to the darkness, which could take 15 to 20 minutes.

◾Dress for the weather: Bring blankets or a camping chair to make the viewing comfortable.

◾Relax: Chill and take in the evening’s sky. Not all meteor showers are spectacular.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Perseid meteor shower 2025 peaks: Ohio weather forecast, best views