Meteor Blazes Over Istanbul as Perseid Shower Peaks Across Northern Hemisphere

Exam-focused facts from the 15 August 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Perseid meteor shower peaked on the night of August 12-13, 2026, under a new moon, offering excellent viewing conditions.
A bright meteor was recorded over Istanbul on August 10, captured by dashcams and security cameras.
The Perseids originate from debris shed by comet Swift-Tuttle, burning up about 100 km overhead.
NASA describes the Perseids as the best meteor shower of the year, with swift, bright meteors and long wakes.
Under dark skies, the shower can produce 50 to 100 meteors per hour, though 2026 forecasts predict 50-75 per hour.
The shower is active from July 17 to August 24, 2026, and favours the Northern Hemisphere, making India well placed for observation.