Perseids Meteor Shower Will Light Up Indiana, Kentucky Skies

The annual Perseids Meteor Shower is a personal favorite. This annual celestial display produces as many as 50 to 100 shooting stars per hour during its peak, and it begins on July 17, 2025.

When Does the Perseids Meteor Shower Peak?

Often called shooting stars, what we will be experiencing in the night sky in Indiana and Kentucky over the coming weeks is so much more. Those highly anticipated glowing streaks lighting the sky are meteors.

Why We See So Many Shooting Stars

According to NASA, meteors are nothing more than space rocks. Thanks to the friction created as a meteor moves through the Earth's atmosphere, generating heat, these rocks can be seen glowing through the sky all at once. We call this phenomenon a meteor shower.

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While that bright streak is not the rock itself, it is the glowing hot air as the hot rock zips through the atmosphere. If the idea of intergalactic rocks hurling through space towards Earth sounds alarming, don't panic. NASA assures us that we have nothing to worry about.

The meteoroids are usually small, ranging from dust particles to boulder size, and they are almost always small enough to burn up quickly in our atmosphere. There is little chance any of them will strike the surface of the planet.

How to Get the Best View

If you're ready to do some stargazing and are hoping to experience the Perseids Meteor Shower, be sure you find someplace away from the lights of the city. The darker the area, the better, and be sure to allow yourself time to acclimate to the dark. Avoid other light sources like phones or flashlights, too. It can take nearly 20 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark, allowing you to see the night sky more clearly, according to EarthSky.org. You don't typically need any additional gear or lenses to view most meteor showers, either.

READ MORE: 2025 Meteor Shower Schedule

When to Watch the Perseids in Indiana & Kentucky

Perhaps one of the most well-known, the Perseids Meteor Shower puts on a beautiful show in the night sky every year. In 2025, the Perseids will be active from July 17th through August 23rd. At its peak, it can produce up to 50-100 shooting stars per hour. That peak will take place over Indiana, Kentucky, and other parts of the nation during the overnight hours between August 12th and 13th, according to AMSMeteors.org.

Don’t Forget These Meteor Shower Essentials

Before you head out to watch the meteor showers, it is a good idea to have an idea of a safe place to view them, particularly if you won't be viewing them from your own backyard. You'll want to be sure that you don't inadvertently find yourself trespassing while trying to get a good view of the night sky. And, since it is midwestern summer, bug spray might be a good idea before you head outside.