NASA Is Hosting a Livestream for Perseids: How to Watch the Meteor Shower

NASA is hosting a live stream for the upcoming Perseids meteor shower, offering stargazers the chance to watch the celestial event from the comfort of their homes. The meteor shower, which has captivated observers for nearly 2,000 years, is expected to reach its peak on Wednesday, August 12, with a rate of 50 to 100 meteors visible per hour.

Those unable to witness the shower in person can tune in to NASA's livestream, which will go live at 9 p.m. PT (Wednesday) on YouTube. The live stream will feature real-time sky imagery from NASA's Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, along with expert commentary and discussions on the Perseids' history and other intriguing facts.

The Perseids meteor shower has been active since July 17 and is expected to continue until August 24, so stargazers may still catch a glimpse even after the live stream concludes. The meteor shower's peak is anticipated to occur on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, with meteors reported at a rate of about one per minute. NASA has not announced the exact duration of the live stream, but its name, "Up All Night," implies the event will run for an extended period.

The live stream may be accessible via NASA's YouTube channel, Twitch channel, and NASA Plus, which is also streamed on Netflix. However, due to the numerous celestial events planned for Wednesday, including a solar eclipse and a planet parade, the Perseids livestream will only be available on YouTube. Additionally, NASA is hosting a separate livestream for the solar eclipse on NASA Plus, Netflix, X, Amazon Prime, and YouTube, with the event visible across the northern third of the US. Those outside the path of the eclipse can still watch the celestial phenomenon online.