Texarkana: The Perseid Meteor Shower Is Back For 2026 – Might Be One Of The Best Ever

If you've been waiting for one of nature's best free shows, it's here and will just get better as we head into August.

The annual Perseid meteor shower is now active and will continue through August 24, with the best viewing expected during the overnight hours of August 12-13.

Dark Conditions and Lots Of Meteors

This year is shaping up to be especially spectacular because the shower peaks during a New Moon phase, meaning little to no moonlight will wash out the sky. Under dark conditions, skywatchers could see up to 100 meteors per hour.

The Perseids happen each summer as Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. Those bright "shooting stars" are actually tiny bits of comet dust, many no larger than a grain of sand, that slam into Earth's atmosphere at incredible speeds and burn up in a brilliant flash.

Best Time to Watch

For those in Texas and Arkansas, head outside around 10:30 or 11 p.m., but the real show usually begins after midnight and continues until dawn.

To improve your chances:

• Find a location away from city lights.
• Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. (stop looking at  your phone!)
• Skip the telescope or binoculars; the naked eye gives you the widest view of the sky.
• Be patient. Meteors often come in bursts followed by quiet periods.

With dark skies, warm August temperatures, and one of the year's best meteor showers, 2026 could be one of the best opportunities in years to catch a wish on a shooting star.

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Learn More

NASA's Night Sky Network: Perseid Meteor Shower
American Meteor Society Meteor Shower Calendar
Space.com's 2026 Perseid Viewing Guide

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