Each August, the night skies above the United Kingdom become a stage for one of nature’s most dazzling performances: the Perseid meteor shower. This year, the celestial spectacle has once again drawn the gaze of stargazers, photographers, and curious onlookers alike, with experts hailing it as an "astronomical highlight" and NASA dubbing it the "most popular meteor shower of the year," according to multiple reports, including those from Bristol Live and the Royal Observatory.
Josh Dury, a dedicated astrophotographer, set out to capture the magic of the Perseids from one of Dorset’s most iconic landmarks, the Durdle Door limestone arch. With the odds stacked against him—thanks to a bright waning gibbous moon threatening to wash out the show—Dury spent several nights between July 28 and August 1, 2025, with his camera trained on the heavens. "Unfortunately, the bright waning gibbous moon will blot out this year’s display, so I had a go imaging them at the beginning of the month," Dury explained, as reported by The Sun. "I attempted to capture meteors between July 28 to August 1 and got 14 meteors documented over a six-hour integration."
Dury’s approach involved long exposure photography and the use of a star tracker to follow the movement of the sky, allowing him to record meteors even under less-than-ideal conditions. He later stacked the images using photo-editing software to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, a technique that reveals faint details often lost to the naked eye. "It was a longer integration this time to capture some meteors, but obviously not as active during the peak," he noted. Despite the moon’s interference, Dury’s efforts paid off, yielding a striking visual record of the Perseids above the ancient coastal arch.
The Perseid meteor shower, which began on July 17 and continues until August 24, 2025, reached its peak intensity on the night of August 12. Yet, as the Royal Observatory and Bristol Live both confirm, the days following the peak still offer opportunities for breathtaking views, especially for those willing to seek out darker skies and plan ahead. NASA’s endorsement of the event as the "most popular meteor shower of the year" is echoed by Dr Shyam Balaji, a theoretical physicist at King’s College London, who described it as an "astronomical highlight for stargazers."
But what exactly gives rise to this annual spectacle? According to Dr Balaji, "The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth travelling through the debris left by a comet called Swift-Tuttle. The debris falls through the Earth's atmosphere and as it burns up you get the meteor shower display. It is one of the fastest and brightest meteor showers of the year, so an astronomical highlight for stargazers." The meteors themselves are astonishingly small—no bigger than a grain of sand—but they travel at a blistering 36 miles per second, producing brilliant streaks of light as they vaporize in the atmosphere.
The shower derives its name from the constellation Perseus, the apparent point from which the meteors radiate. For the best chance of spotting these fleeting streaks, astronomy experts advise looking toward the North East, in the direction of Perseus. The constellation, named after the legendary Greek hero, may appear to some as the rough outline of a man’s body. As Bristol Live points out, your chances of a successful sighting are heavily influenced by the brightness of the Moon. On August 18, 2025, for example, experts at Starwalk estimated the Moon’s brightness at 26.9%, a factor that can either enhance or diminish the visibility of faint meteors.
For those eager to maximize their viewing experience, Dr Balaji recommends a simple strategy: "For me personally, the best way to view the meteor shower is just with your naked eye because of the speed with which they move. But you could use Sky Guide or Stellarium or other stargazing apps to get a better viewing experience, to target the right regions of the sky to see the meteor shower." These apps can help pinpoint the location of Perseus and alert users to optimal viewing times, making the experience more accessible even for beginners.
The Perseid meteor shower has a storied history, having been observed for nearly 2,000 years. Each summer, as Earth plows through the debris field left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, the tiny particles ignite in our atmosphere, creating what are known as fireballs—massive bursts of light and color that linger far longer than ordinary meteor trails. According to Bristol Live, these fireballs are a defining feature of the Perseids and a major draw for skywatchers.
Of course, catching a glimpse of the Perseids isn’t just about luck. The Royal Museums Greenwich offer practical advice for hopeful observers: "Plan ahead and check the weather forecast. If it is likely to be inclement, find a different location or go out on a different day. The days leading up to the peak are usually better than the days after. Reduce the amount of light pollution in your field of view. This could mean heading out to the countryside, a nearby park or even turning your back to street lamps if you’re not able to go anywhere."
For city dwellers, escaping the glare of urban lights can make all the difference. Even something as simple as turning your back to a streetlamp or seeking out a local park can improve your chances of seeing meteors. And while the Perseids are best viewed in the North East near Perseus, meteors can appear anywhere in the sky—so a wide, unobstructed view is always a plus.
Despite the challenges posed by this year’s bright moon, the Perseid meteor shower remains a beloved tradition for amateur astronomers and casual stargazers alike. The thrill of spotting a fireball, the wonder of tracing ancient cosmic debris across the night sky, and the shared experience of looking up in awe—these are the moments that keep people coming back year after year.
With just days left before the curtain falls on this year’s display—August 24 marks the final opportunity for a front-row seat—the advice from experts is clear: grab a blanket, find a dark spot, and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Whether you’re using a camera, a smartphone app, or simply your own two eyes, the Perseid meteor shower is a reminder that sometimes, the universe puts on its best show for those willing to look up.
