Perseid meteor shower expected to peak over Cyprus in mid-August

The annual Perseid meteor shower, a celestial phenomenon occurring as Earth passes through debris from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, is set to peak in Cyprus on the nights of August 12 and 13, 2026. According to astrophysicist Chrysanthos Fakas and local astronomical organizations, the shower has been active since July 17 and will continue until August 24. Observations are particularly favorable this year due to a moonless night on August 12, which will significantly improve visibility of the meteors as they enter the atmosphere at speeds of approximately 59 kilometers per second.

Experts advise observers to look toward the north-eastern sky after 11 p.m., when the constellation Perseus, the radiant point of the meteors, rises higher above the horizon. To enhance the experience, individuals are encouraged to seek locations away from city light pollution. In addition to the meteor shower, a public astronomical observation event is scheduled for August 12 in Kyperounda. While a total solar eclipse is occurring on August 12 elsewhere in the world, it will not be visible from Cyprus. The month will conclude with the Sturgeon Moon on August 28.