Perseids over Kazakhstan: when to watch the meteor shower and what to know

Tengrinews.kz — In August, residents of Kazakhstan will be able to witness one of the most beautiful astronomical events of the year — the Perseid meteor shower. Specialists have called 2026 one of the most favorable years for observing the “starfall.”
Night of “falling stars”
August will give Kazakhstanis a chance to see a magical celestial show — one of the most famous meteor showers, the Perseids. Its peak activity will occur on the night of August 12 to 13. For many, this could be an ideal reason to spend an unusual evening — go out of town, disconnect from the bustle of the city and arrange a date under the starry sky with cosmic special effects.

“In good weather and away from city lights, it will be possible to see up to 80–100 meteors per hour. Of course, this is under ideal conditions, but even in less favorable circumstances, seeing several dozen bright meteors during the night is quite realistic,” said Rashit Valiullin, deputy director for research at the V. G. Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute.

What time is best for observation
According to Valiullin, residents of Kazakhstan should look at the sky after midnight and before dawn — approximately from 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time. During this period, the constellation Perseus rises high enough above the northeastern horizon.

“Observation conditions will be very favorable, since the peak occurs shortly after the new moon — moonlight will hardly interfere. This makes 2026 one of the best years in recent years for observing the Perseids,” the specialist said.

At the same time, he noted that no telescope or other equipment will be needed for observations.

“The main thing is to choose a place away from city lights and give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness,” Valiullin said.

The specialist also advises not to look directly at the radiant — the point from which the meteors appear to fly out — but slightly away from it, at about 40–60 degrees, since this is where the longest and brightest trails most often appear.
Where the Perseids come from
According to Rashit Valiullin, the Perseids are considered one of the most spectacular meteor showers because of their high activity and bright meteors.
He explained that the shower occurs when Earth passes through a trail of dust and small particles left by comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle. This comet orbits the Sun approximately once every 133 years. It last passed the closest point to the Sun in its orbit — perihelion — in 1992, and its next close approach is expected only in 2125.

“The particles left by the comet are usually the size of a grain of sand to a small pebble. When they enter Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of about 59 kilometers per second, they heat up strongly and burn up. This is exactly the process we observe as bright glowing trails in the sky,” the specialist noted.

The meteor shower got its name from the constellation Perseus.

“If you mentally extend the paths of the meteors backward, it seems as though they all fly out from one point in the sky — the radiant, located in this constellation. In reality, however, the particles move almost parallel to one another, and the effect of divergence occurs because of perspective,” Valiullin said.

Those who, for any reason, miss the August “starfall” should not be upset. Already in the fall, on October 21–22, residents of Kazakhstan will be able to observe the Orionid meteor shower, which promises to be no less impressive.