Perseid meteor shower peak 2026: Best images of the celestial fireworks from August 12-13
The Perseid meteor shower dazzled the night sky in several parts of the world when it peaked on the night of August 12 and into the pre-dawn hours of August 13. Brilliantly glowing fireballs were spotted across the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and northern Asia during what is considered the best meteor shower of the year. The Perseids bring as many as 100 meteors per hour, and the images captured by lucky observers did not disappoint.
Best images of the Perseid meteor shower
Parts of Canada such as Nova Scotia, Quebec, and British Columbia were fortunate enough to witness the celestial fireworks, along with U.S. states including Texas, California, New York, Utah, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. In Europe, the Alpine regions as well as parts of Scotland, Spain, Wales, and Portugal were also treated to the meteor shower. The fireballs were also spotted in countries like Japan, India, Thailand, the Maldives, and Singapore. The following image shows a meteor streaking across the Milky Way during the Perseid meteor shower peak on August 13, 2026 in Deep Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
The picture below was captured over Joshua Tree National Park on August 12 in Joshua Tree, California.
The following image shows a meteor (bright streak on the left) during the Perseid meteor shower peak at Pedernales Falls State Park on August 13 in Johnson City, Texas
In the image below, a meteor streaks above a destroyed aircraft used for training purposes in the Negev Desert, Israel, on August 13.
Another picture below shows a meteor during the Perseid meteor shower peak at Pedernales Falls State Park on August 12 in Johnson City, Texas.
The picture below features a meteor captured over Joshua Tree National Park on August 12, 2026 in Joshua Tree, California.
The following image shows stars appearing in the sky over the desert during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on August 12 in Wadi Rum, Jordan.
The picture below features the Milky way during the Perseid Meteor Shower over Joshua Tree National Park on August 13, in Joshua Tree, California.
The view below captures the skies as the Perseid Meteor Shower is snapped over Joshua Tree National Park on August 13 in Joshua Tree, California.
Another image below features a meteor captured over Pedernales Falls State Park on August 13 in Johnson City, Texas.
The Perseids will be active until August 24, so there's a good chance you may spot them over the next few nights under perfect sky conditions. But if you missed the peak, there's another meteor shower awaiting us next month. On September 1, the Aurigid meteor shower will reach its peak activity and you might spot up to 6 meteors per hour.
