NASA says it’s the world’s best meteor shower – here’s how to see it

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
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Get ready – the Perseid meteor shower is just around the corner.

The night sky above Australia has been putting on a show this year, with a flurry of interstellar activity on display throughout 2025. But July is really delivering the celestial drama, as the spectacular Perseid meteor shower begins its roughly one-month journey past Earth.

What is the Perseid meteor shower?

The Perseid meteor shower is often dubbed the best of its kind. Characterised by its swift and bright meteors that are visible from both the northern and southern hemispheres, it’s one of the most highly anticipated celestial events around the world.

The Perseid meteor shower
The Perseid meteor shower has been hailed as one of the world’s best. (Image: Getty Images/bjdlzx)

This natural light show has long been a favourite among astronomy enthusiasts, famed for the vibrant trains of light left in its wake and the dazzling fireballs that often accompany it. Not only can us Earth dwellers easily spot it with the naked eye, but we’re also able to make out different colours and sizes.

Compared to other showers like the Lyrids, which usually average 10 to 20 meteors per hour, the likelihood of witnessing the Perseids is extremely high. According to NASA, observers can expect between 50 and 100 meteors an hour – a whopping 400 per cent increase in sighting probability.

When will it be active?

The Perseids originate from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which left a large trail of detritus as it cruised past us back in 1992. When Earth passes through this debris stream during its orbit around the sun, the cometary material collides with our atmosphere. Extreme speeds create air friction, and that, combined with atmospheric compression, causes the objects to heat up, break apart and burn out. That’s what we see during a meteor shower.

The Perseid meteor shower
The celestial shower is easily visible to the naked eye. (Image: Getty Images/bjdlzx)

Earth enters comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle’s debris trail once a year and takes around a month to fully clear it. This means we’re treated to the Perseids meteor shower every year! While it’ll be visible from as early as 17 July, the best time to witness the celestial show is around mid-August. This year, it’s expected to peak on 12–13 August. This is when Earth passes through the most concentrated part of the debris trail, resulting in the most meteor activity.

Where can I see it?

Australia is home to plenty of prime stargazing spots – from dedicated reserves and observatories to our very own DarkSky-approved stay. But thanks to the Perseids’ spectacular scale, you won’t need to venture far to catch a glimpse. No matter what part of the country you call home, even backyard star-chasers are in for a treat.

The Perseid meteor shower
Low light pollution is key to the viewing experience. (Image: Getty Images/Jerry Hamblen)

But to get the most out of your experience, a few simple tips and tricks can go a long way. First things first, find a spot with minimal light pollution – the darker, the better. Head outside about 30 minutes before you want to catch the show, giving your eyes enough time to fully adjust to the darkness. The best part? No fancy gear required. You won’t need a telescope or even binoculars – just a cosy blanket, a little patience and an astronomical attitude.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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Film lovers need to add these Victorian theatres to their bucket list

    Ricky French Ricky French
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    Theatres have always been a cornerstone of regional Victoria, reflecting the character and history of their local communities.

    From grand, gold rush-era masterpieces to Art Deco wonders to repurposed prisons, we’ve rounded up four of Victoria’s best regional theatres to catch a show at next time you’re travelling through.

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat 
    Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat has been standing for 150 years. (Image: Michael Pham)

    A monument to the immense gold rush wealth flooding through Ballarat in the second half of the 19th century, Her Majesty’s Theatre (‘Her Maj’ to locals) celebrates its 150th anniversary as the city’s premier performing arts venue this year.

    Built in a classical style and immaculately preserved (thanks largely to a recent $16-million restoration), this Lydiard Street landmark is the oldest continuously operating theatre in mainland Australia, notable for its double balcony and a stage that slopes towards the front, making it one of the most audience-friendly venues in the country to see a show.

    The Capital, Bendigo

    The Capital Theatre, Bendigo
    The Capital in Bendigo was built in 1873 as a Masonic Hall. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Denoted by its distinctive Corinthian columns, more reminiscent of ancient Greece than regional Victoria, The Capital theatre in Bendigo has been through several iterations since the first stone was laid in 1873.

    Originally a Masonic hall, the renaissance revival-style building became a theatre in the 1890s, falling into disrepair for a time during the 1970s, before being restored and reopened (as the Bendigo Regional Arts Centre) in 1991. Today, the 480-seat venue hosts everything from comedy to cabaret to traditional theatre, dance, opera and live music.

     Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo

    a look insideBendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre
    Inside Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, a former prison. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Bendigo has busted out as a regional performing arts hotspot, so it’s fitting that one of its newest venues is housed within a former prison. Meaning ‘meeting place’ or ‘gather together’ in the language of the local Dja Dja Wurrung people, the $26-million, 950-seat auditorium rose from within the red brick walls of the historic Sandhurst Gaol in 2015.

    It’s an eerie feeling as you approach the imposing granite facade, pass beneath the old gallows and pick up your ticket from the box office occupying a repurposed cell block. With the building playing a main character in the show, this is performative architecture at its finest.

    Rex Theatre, Charlton

    the Rex Theatre in Charlton
    The 1938-built Rex Theatre in Charlton is an Art Deco gem. (Image: Jenny Pollard)

    Regional theatres don’t come more romantic than this Art Deco gem in the river town of Charlton, in north-central Victoria. Built in 1938, the 350-seat community-owned theatre provides an essential entertainment outlet for residents in the Wimmera Mallee region, as well as visitors making the trip up the Calder Highway from Melbourne.

    The volunteer-run venue is the last remaining purpose-built cinema in regional Victoria, and hosts the Charlton Film Festival every February, plus three weekly film screenings (Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday).