NASA to Livestream Perseid Peak on Aug. 13 as Shower May Hit 100 Meteors an Hour

Q: How will the International Space Station capture the Perseids' fiery descent from high above Earth's atmosphere?

The International Space Station will not film meteors falling through space itself; it will provide live views of Earth’s night side from orbit, where Perseid meteors can sometimes be seen as bright streaks as they burn up in the upper atmosphere below the station. NASA said the Aug. 13 livestream will include “sky views from the International Space Station” alongside ground-based footage from Marshall Space Flight Center’s Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory, or ALaMO. That means the ISS contribution is expected to come from onboard cameras aimed toward Earth’s limb and darkened atmosphere, giving viewers an orbital perspective on where the meteors flare as comet debris from Swift-Tuttle hits the atmosphere. That vantage point matters because Perseid meteoroids become visible only when they encounter and heat Earth’s atmosphere, typically around 60 miles, or roughly 100 kilometers, above the ground. The ISS orbits much higher, around 400 to 420 kilometers above Earth, so its cameras can look down and across the atmospheric edge to catch the brief flashes from above. In practice, the station’s role is to share real-time orbital sky and Earth-edge imagery during NASA’s watch party, while ALaMO’s dedicated meteor cameras provide the primary ground-based meteor tracking. Together, the two views offer both a surface and space-based look at one of the year’s brightest showers.

3 articles · Updated · NASA · Aug 5

Midnight ET on Aug. 13, NASA will stream a Perseid meteor watch party on YouTube with live sky views, meteor experts and viewer Q&A.
The shower peaks overnight Aug. 12-13, and NASA said a new Moon should keep skies dark enough for ideal viewing conditions.
50 to 100 meteors per hour can appear at peak if conditions cooperate, with the Perseids also known for bright fireballs that leave glowing trails.
Marshall Space Flight Center’s ALaMO observatory—marking 20 years this year—will supply camera feeds, alongside views from the International Space Station.
The Perseids have been active since early July and run through late August, remaining one of the oldest recorded and most reliably visible annual meteor showers.