Meteor Showers in September 2025: Your Guide to When, Where, and How to Watch
If you’ve ever seen a quick streak of light in the night sky, you’ve seen a meteor—what most of us call a “shooting star.” When a bunch of them happen over a short period, that’s a meteor shower. If you’re wondering when the next meteor shower will be, this September 2025 offers a couple of chances to catch this cool natural light show, and this guide has everything you need to know to see it.
What does a Meteor Shower Look Like?
A meteor shower happens when the Earth passes through a cloud of dust and ice left behind by a comet. As these tiny bits hit our atmosphere, they burn up and create bright streaks of light.
To keep it simple, here are the terms you might hear:
- Meteoroid: A piece of rock or ice floating around in space. Most are no bigger than a grain of sand.
- Meteor: The streak of light you see when a meteoroid burns up in our atmosphere. This is the “shooting star.”
- Meteorite: On the rare chance a piece makes it all the way to the ground, it’s called a meteorite.
All the meteors in a shower will seem to come from one specific spot in the sky, which is called the radiant. Think of it like driving through snow at night—all the snowflakes look like they’re flying at you from a single point ahead. It’s the same idea. You’ll see streaks of light all over the sky, but they’ll all trace back to that one spot.
When: Your September 2025 Meteor Shower Calendar
Explore the best September travel destinations during this mild September. Think of it as a gentler, less crowded way to enjoy the night sky. If you’re patient, you might see a few shooting stars per hour, adding even more excitement to your autumn experience.
Alpha Aurigids
- Peak Night: The night of August 31 - September 1, 2025.
- Expected Rate: About 5-6 meteors per hour in a very dark location.
- Viewing Conditions: The Moon will be pretty bright that night, which will wash out the fainter meteors. Your best shot is to watch in the early morning hours, just before dawn, after the Moon has set.
September Epsilon Perseids
- Peak Night: The night of September 9, 2025.
- Expected Rate: Around 5 meteors per hour.
- Viewing Conditions: This one will be a challenge. The Moon will be nearly full on its peak night, so its glare will likely hide all but the brightest shooting stars.
Daytime Sextantids
- Active: Mid–late September
- Visibility: Not visible at night (daylight shower)
Quick Overview Table
| Shower Name | Active Dates | Peak Date | Rate (ZHR) | Visibility Notes |
| Aurigids | Aug 28 – Sept 4 | Sept 1 | 2–5/hr | Northern Hemisphere, after midnight |
| September ε-Perseids | Sept 5 – 21 | Sept 9 | ~5/hr | Radiant in Perseus, best late night |
| Daytime Sextantids | Mid–late September | — | — | Daylight shower, not visible at night |
How do I Know if There is a Meteor Shower Tonight?
- Mobile Apps: Download Sky Tonight or Star Walk 2 for instant notifications about active meteor showers and where to look in the sky.
- Quick Check Websites: Visit amsmeteors.org or imo.net for real-time meteor shower activity. These sites will tell you if there’s a meteor shower tonight and what to expect.
Check these resources in the late afternoon to plan your evening stargazing session.
Where: Top U.S. Locations for Meteor Shower Viewing
Here are some of the most celebrated spots for catching a meteor shower, chosen for their unparalleled dark skies and unique landscapes.
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
This park is definitely a star viewer’s dream. With the remote and high-elevation location, it owns some of the darkest skies in the United States, which earns the place a prestigious Bortle 1 rating. This means it has virtually no light pollution, and you can have a great time enjoying the Milky Way, distant galaxies, and a breathtaking number of shooting stars.
Death Valley National Park, California/Nevada
Death Valley has very dry air. This makes the nights incredibly clear, which is why it’s a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park. The sky is clear enough to easily see the Milky Way and even spot the International Space Station. For the best views, you can go to wide-open spots like the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes or Badwater Basin. In the winter, the park offers ranger-led tours. There is also a Starcamp where you can camp and take photos of the stars.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
If you want a truly big-sky experience, Big Bend is the place. It’s so dark there that you might be amazed by how many stars you can see. A great place to see the stars is the Chisos Basin—from over 5,000 feet up, the view is very wide open. And sometimes, the park even has free events, like star parties and moonlit walks, which are a great way for you to make friends and enjoy the night with others.
Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
For anyone on the East Coast, Cherry Springs is your best choice for dark skies. It’s a special place protected from city lights, where the sky is so dark the Milky Way can sometimes cast a shadow. The park is set up nicely for visitors. You can use the public field for a casual look, or there’s another spot for people who may want to stay overnight with telescopes. You might also be able to join a guided star tour or one of the big star parties they have.
Other Excellent Dark-Sky Destinations
Many other locations across the country also offer fantastic opportunities for stargazing. These spots are all certified dark-sky locations and are highly recommended for anyone looking to get a clear view of the night sky.
| Location | State(s) | Key Features |
| Joshua Tree National Park | California | Wide desert horizons and certified Dark Sky Park status. |
| Natural Bridges National Monument | Utah | The first International Dark Sky Park, known for its sandstone arches. |
| Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve | Colorado | High altitude and clear, dry skies. |
| Utah’s Mighty Five | Utah | A cluster of national parks (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion) all designated as International Dark Sky Parks. |
| Acadia National Park | Maine | A coastal New England setting with protected night skies. |
| The Headlands International Dark Sky Park | Michigan | A unique Lake Michigan shoreline location with protected night skies. |
| Copper Breaks State Park | Texas | Recognized for its Bortle 2 skies and protected stargazing environment. |
How: A Stargazer’s Checklist for the Best View
Get Away From City Lights
This is the most important tip. The bright light from cities and towns, which is also called light pollution, can wash out the night sky and make it impossible to see fainter meteors.
So try to drive at least an hour away from any major urban area to find a truly dark spot. A state park or a quiet country road with a wide-open view is a perfect choice.
Give Your Eyes Time to Adjust.
When you get to your star-viewing dark spot, your eyes will need about 20-30 minutes to fully adapt to the darkness. During this time, your pupils open up to let in more light, which helps you see much more detail in the sky.
At this time, it is very important to avoid looking at any bright screens, like your phone, as even a quick glance can ruin your night vision, and you’ll have to start over.
Check the Weather.
A clear sky is necessary to see a meteor shower, so check the forecast right before you leave home. Clouds will completely block the view, and even a little haze can make the meteors harder to spot.
It’s also a good idea to check the phase of the moon, as a bright full moon can make the sky less dark and hide the fainter meteors.
Be Patient.
Watching meteors is a relaxing activity, not a fast-paced event. Meteors often appear in spurts with quiet periods in between, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see one right away.
Get comfortable by lying on a blanket or sitting in a reclining chair so you don’t strain your neck. Just lie back and look up at a large area of the sky.
No Special Gear Needed.
You don’t need a telescope or binoculars to watch a meteor shower; in fact, they make it harder. Telescopes are designed to look at a very small, specific spot, but meteors can appear anywhere in the sky and move very fast.
The best tools are your own eyes because they give you the widest possible view.
Gear Up: What to Bring for a Night Under the Stars
Being comfortable makes the whole experience better. Here’s a quick list of what you might want to bring.
The Essentials
- A blanket or chair: A reclining lawn chair or a thick blanket will save you from a sore neck.
- Warm clothes: It can get chilly when you’re sitting still at night, so bring layers, a hat, and a jacket.
- Snacks and a warm drink: A thermos of something hot is always a nice touch.
- A red-light flashlight: A normal flashlight will wreck your night vision. A red light lets you see what you’re doing without blinding you to the stars.
Powering Your Outing
When you’re out away from the city, you’re also away from outlets. And since your phone is likely your map, star-finder, and camera, keeping it charged is important.
This is where a portable power station like the EcoFlow TRAIL Series comes in handy. It’s designed for exactly this kind of trip—it’s super lightweight and small, so you’re not lugging a heavy piece of gear around. For example, the TRAIL 200 DC weighs just over 4 pounds. The TRAIL Plus 300 DC is even better for stargazing since it has a built-in camping light and a handle that’s also a detachable charging cable. It’s just a simple way to keep your stuff running so you can focus on the sky.
Go Out and Look Up
At the end of the day, the best way to see a meteor shower is to just get out there and look up. It’s a great excuse to unplug and enjoy the quiet of the night. So pack some snacks, grab a chair, and give it a shot. And if you want to make sure your night isn’t cut short by a dead battery, we’ve got you covered.
Ready for your next adventure? See how EcoFlow can keep you powered wherever you go.