đ How to Watch the 2025 Perseids: A Guide to Summer Magic
âš Why the Perseids?
Every summer, something magical happens: the Earth crosses paths with an ancient cometâs trail, and the sky comes alive. đ
The Perseids are one of the brightest and most beloved meteor showers of the year â and theyâre back in August 2025 with their usual cosmic charm. Whether itâs your first time or your annual ritual, here's your guide to experiencing them fully.
đ When is the best time to watch the Perseids in 2025?
The Perseids are active from July 17 to August 24, but the peak will be on the night of August 11â12, with plenty of activity also visible on surrounding nights (especially August 10 to 14). Note that itâs a full moon on August 9th.
đ What time should I go out?
The best time is between 10:30 PM and 4:00 AM, but the real show starts after midnight, when the sky is darkest and the constellation Perseus rises higher.
đ Tip: Give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the dark. Avoid phones or white lights!
đ§ Where to look in the sky?
The Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, near the northeastern part of the sky.
But don't worry â you donât need to find it! Meteors can streak across the entire sky. Just find a dark, wide-open area, lie back, and look up. âš
đ Can I see the Perseids from Montreal?
Yes⊠but only a few. Light pollution will wash out the majority of the show.
In Montreal, you might catch 5 to 10 meteors per hour from your backyard â better than nothing, but if you can, get out of the city.
đČ Best places to watch near Montreal
Here are some of my favourite dark-sky friendly spots within 1.5â2 hours of the city:
Parc national du Mont-Tremblant (Secteur Pimbina or La Diable)
Parc national dâOka (especially near the beach at dusk)
Mont Mégantic / ASTROLab (one of the darkest spots in Québec)
Val-David, Sainte-Agathe, or Weir backroads
Zenderfull events! (Join us for guided outings with photo sessions)
đ Need help picking a spot? I always recommend checking light pollution maps like lightpollutionmap.info before heading out.
đ§ What to bring?
Blanket or reclining chair
Warm clothes (yes, even in August)
Thermos with tea or hot chocolate
Bug spray
Patience
Someone you love to share the magic with đ«
đž Want to capture the moment?
You donât need fancy gear â even your smartphone can work! Hereâs a quick cheat sheet:
With your phone:
Use Night Mode
Set on a tripod or still surface
Avoid city lights
Point toward a wide portion of the sky
With a camera:
Use a wide-angle lens
Settings: ISO 1600â3200, shutter 10â20s, aperture f/2.8âf/4
Manual focus to infinity
Take many shots â you might catch a meteor in one!
đ„ Want my full PDF cheat sheet? [Download it here]
đ What are the Perseids made of?
Theyâre tiny pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle, burning up as they enter our atmosphere at over 200,000 km/h.
âš Most are the size of a grain of sand, but their speed makes them shine bright â sometimes leaving behind long, glowing trails.
Fun fact: green and red colors are common due to the interaction of the meteoroids with atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen. Theyâre not just white streaks â theyâre chemical fireworks!
đ„ Bonus: What about other showers?
You might hear media mention the Southern Delta Aquariids or Alpha Capricornids â but donât worry too much about them.
The Southern Delta Aquariids peak in late July but are mostly visible from the Southern Hemisphere
The Alpha Capricornids are slower and dimmer, with fewer meteors overall
The Perseids remain the main event â bright, active, and visible from QuĂ©bec!
đ Want to join a guided Perseids experience?
âš Iâll be leading a Zenderfull night outing on August 10, with astrophotography support, stargazing, and cosmic storytelling under the stars.
đČ Weâll head where the skies are clearest, and spots are limited.
đ Final Thoughts
Sometimes all it takes to feel better is to lie under the sky and let your mind drift with the meteors.
Donât miss this chance to look up â itâs free, itâs ancient, and itâs yours.
See you under the stars đ