Observe the peak of the Aurigid meteor shower happening at night on August 31, in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the elusive meteors.

In the night sky of early September, a celestial spectacle awaits: the Aurigid meteor shower. This annual event, visible from 29th August to 2nd September, offers a chance to witness shooting stars streaking across the sky.

To find the radiant point, or the point of origin, of these meteors, you can use a smartphone astronomy app or a simple reference - the width of your fist held at arm's length, which equates to 10 degrees of sky. The radiant for the Aurigid shower is located close to the magnitude 2.6 star theta Aurigae in the constellation Auriga.

The best time for stargazers in the U.S. to hunt for Aurigids will be in the hours preceding dawn on Sept. 1, when the radiant will be at its highest in the eastern sky. For those in Germany, the radiant will be most visible in the early morning hours of September 1, around 5:00 AM Central European Summer Time, as the radiant point is positioned favourably in the sky then, allowing the meteors to be most visible.

The Aurigid meteor shower takes place as Earth travels through the tenuous debris trail shed by the comet C/1911 N1 Kiess, which is thought to have last travelled through the inner solar system some 2,000 years ago.

The peak of the Aurigid meteor shower varies each year. In 2025, it will reach its zenith at 11:00 p.m. EDT on Aug. 31 (0300 GMT). During the peak, up to six shooting stars could be visible per hour, according to in-the-sky.org. However, Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society suggests that the Aurigid meteor shower may produce only one meteor per hour.

For photographers, a separate guide is available for capturing these celestial events, especially meteor showers. The best cameras and lenses for imaging the night sky can be found in this guide.

Stay updated on rocket launches, skywatching events, and more by subscribing to the newsletter of a reputable website. Happy stargazing!

Observe the peak of the Aurigid meteor shower happening at night on August 31, in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the elusive meteors.