We’re livestreaming the Perseid meteor shower

Share in the sky show with a 4K ultra HD video stream overnight on August 12-13.
By and | Published: August 9, 2018 | Last updated on May 18, 2023
The annual Perseid meteor shower is one of the most famous meteor showers of the year. Originating in the direction of the constellation Perseus the Hero, the Perseids arise from debris left in the inner solar system as comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle orbits the Sun every 133 years.

2018’s forecast is looking good: Predicted to peak between 4 p.m. EDT August 12 and 4 a.m. EDT August 13, eager skygazers should enjoy warm temperatures and a Moonless sky, with an estimated 80–90 meteors per hour appearing for those at dark sites. (Keep in mind, you may see more or less than this number, it’s only an estimate.)

But what if you’re unable to get to that dark site, or — worse yet — what if your weather is poor? We’re pleased to announce we will be livestreaming the 2018 Perseids meteor shower peak in 4K ultra HD. Video will be provided by David Brewer in Denver, Colorado.

The livestream will begin August 12 at 9:00 p.m. MDT, continuing until 4 a.m. MDT August 13. You can tune in at any time to watch the show, and the last four hours of the stream will remain archived and viewable after the broadcast is complete.

If you’d like a reminder, log in to your YouTube account and click “set reminder” on the feed ahead of time to receive an email 30 minutes prior to the broadcast start.

You can also catch a preview of the main event on August 9, as David will stream the sky from his location overnight. Though the shower hasn’t yet reached its peak, observers have already reported spotting short bursts of high meteor activity (15 meteors per minute) at times, as well as significant meteor activity (~100) over several hours. That should only increase as the shower reaches its peak. The number will then start to diminish, though higher-than-average meteor activity associated with the Perseids should be visible through August 24.