Up to a hundred shooting stars per hour over Paris on the night of 12 August
The night of 12 to 13 August is shaping up to be one of the most spectacular of the year for night-sky enthusiasts. Shooting stars in Paris will be out in force as the Perseids reach their peak, offering a free show accessible to everyone. That said, a few tips will help you make the most of it.
The Perseids: a spectacular natural phenomenon
Shooting stars are not actually stars. The Perseids are made up of tiny dust particles shed by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Every summer, Earth passes through this cosmic swarm, and the fragments burn up in our atmosphere at tremendous speed, drawing long streaks of light across the sky.
At the peak, the show ramps up in intensity. It will be possible to spot up to a hundred meteors per hour, more than enough to blow through your annual wish quota.
Contrary to popular belief, these streaks are not all white. Some glow blue, others green, yellow or even red. This colour festival comes down to the chemical composition of each individual meteor, as well as the reactions triggered as it tears through Earth’s atmosphere.
A doubly exceptional evening
On Wednesday 12 August, the programme kicks off before the day is even over. A solar eclipse will be visible at around 8 pm depending on your location. The evening therefore opens with a rare phenomenon before night has even fallen.
« At the peak, it will be possible to spot up to a hundred shooting stars per hour. », Gilles Dawidowicz, vice-president of the Société astronomique de France, to Actu Paris
What’s more, the date coincides with a new Moon. Our satellite will not be flooding the sky with its light. The darker the sky, the more visible shooting stars in Paris and elsewhere become. It is a rare and precious alignment for observers.
Where and how to watch shooting stars in Paris
Light pollution remains the Perseids’ number-one enemy. Balconies and rooftops bathed in artificial light are far from ideal viewing spots. You are better off heading to a green, quiet corner of the city, or even leaving it altogether for the countryside.
- Choose a spot well away from artificial lights
- Look towards the north-northeast to maximise sightings
- Favour the second half of the night
- Let your eyes adjust to the darkness before looking up
- Switch off notifications and bring a blanket to stay comfortable
For shooting stars in Paris without leaving the capital, free Paris sous les Étoiles evenings are organised in several parks by the Association française d’astronomie, running until 13 September. Enthusiasts lead these sessions and help visitors identify constellations and key celestial objects.
These events are open to everyone and require no equipment. Arriving early, however, gives you time to settle in and let your eyes adapt to the dark, an essential condition for enjoying shooting stars in Paris in the best possible way.
The right habits for a successful night out
Whether you are watching shooting stars in Paris or further afield, patience is key. Meteors appear at random, arriving in bursts or one by one. Plan for one to two hours of observation to make sure you do not miss a thing.
Bring a blanket, silence your phone and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. The sky will take care of the rest. This night of 12 to 13 August offers a rare combination: a solar eclipse in the evening, followed by shooting stars in Paris and across France through to dawn.
A free show open to everyone
The great appeal of the Perseids is how accessible they are. No telescope is needed to enjoy this cosmic spectacle. Shooting stars in Paris can be watched with the naked eye, lying on the grass, gaze turned up to the night sky.
This night of 12 to 13 August is therefore a rare opportunity to share a memorable moment with the people you love. The Paris sous les Étoiles evenings, held in several parks across the capital, add a collective, festive dimension to the experience. Enthusiasts are on hand to guide curious visitors and answer their questions.
Whether you are in the heart of Paris or out in the countryside, shooting stars in Paris and beyond promise an unforgettable night. The show is free, magical and almost impossible to top.
