Moon, almost completely illuminated, shines through the arches of ancient Rome's Colosseum. Spectacular moment captured by photographer.
The Perseid meteor shower, one of the most anticipated celestial events of the year, is approaching its peak this weekend. On the night of August 12 to early morning August 13, 2025, Earth will pass through the densest part of debris from comet Swift-Tuttle, causing the highest meteor activity.
The best viewing time during the peak is between midnight and dawn, especially around 2 to 4 a.m. local time. Observers should look toward the constellation Perseus in the northeast sky for meteors radiating from that point. However, viewing conditions will be affected by a bright waning gibbous Moon, about 86% illuminated, which rises during peak nights. This moonlight will reduce the number of visible meteors, limiting sightings largely to the brightest meteors and fireballs.
Despite this, typical counts of up to 100 meteors per hour may drop to 10–20 meteors per hour depending on location and viewing conditions. For best viewing, avoid light pollution and allow dark adaptation of your eyes by looking at as much open sky as possible without binoculars or telescopes.
Meanwhile, in Rome, Italy, astrophotographer Paolo Palma captured stunning images of the nearly-full Moon, visible through an arch window opening of the famous Colosseum, two nights before the full Moon. The Moon, as it rose, took on a colorful hue, changing its size as Palma got closer to the Colosseum to take more shots.
Many people gathered to admire the spectacle, and some even asked passersby to take photos of them with the Moon in the twilight sky. Palma found it evocative to see the Moon through a window of the Colosseum, a sight that likely evoked the same wonder felt by the ancients when aligning buildings with the stars.
If readers photograph the Sturgeon Moon this weekend, they can send their shots to contactus@our website. Paolo Palma's Instagram account is @unsaltonelcielo, where he shares his stunning astrophotography work.
It was suggested that commemorating conjunctions between sky and Earth with public events could be a wonderful idea for the future. As we prepare to witness this celestial spectacle, let us remember to appreciate the beauty of the universe and the wonder it holds for us all.
[1] Space.com. (2025). Perseid Meteor Shower 2025: When, Where, and How to See It. [online] Available at: https://www.space.com/37693-perseid-meteor-shower-2025.html
[2] EarthSky.org. (2025). Perseids Meteor Shower 2025: When, Where, and How to See It. [online] Available at: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/perseid-meteor-shower-2025
[3] SkyandTelescope.com. (2025). Perseids 2025: When, Where, and How to See It. [online] Available at: https://skyandtelescope.com/observing/perseids-2025-when-where-and-how-to-see-it/
[4] NASA.gov. (2025). Perseid Meteor Shower 2025: When, Where, and How to See It. [online] Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/perseid-meteor-shower-2025-when-where-and-how-to-see-it
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