This week is an important one for stargazers in Chicago—one of the biggest meteor showers of the year will make its return!
The Perseid meteor shower will light up the skies over North America between August 12 and 13.
Here’s everything to know about the celestial bodies, plus when and where to watch in the Windy City.
All about the Perseids
The Perseid meteors enter Earth’s atmosphere annually between mid-July and late August, according to Space.com.
The phenomenon is the product of debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, a massive celestial body that orbits the Sun once every 133 years.
Earth passes through this ice and rock debris trail during its yearly orbit cycle, resulting in the spectacular star show we know as the Perseids.
When and where to watch in Chicago
This year, the Perseid meteor shower will between 11 p.m. Wednesday, August 12 and dawn on Thursday, August 13.
The 2026 Perseid event coincides with the new moon cycle, meaning light from the moon won’t drown out the meteors.
Additionally, predictions from AccuWeather indicate partly cloudy conditions Wednesday night, so there’s a good chance the meteors will be highly visible.
As for where to watch in Chicago, the best locations are those with little light pollution.
We recommend heading to lakefront spots like the Adler Planetarium peninsula or Montrose Moonrise Observation Point for an unobstructed view.
