12 August 2026 will bring two astronomical events: in the evening, a partial solar eclipse Once the sun has set, the best Perseid night of the year begins.
The Perseids are expected to peak during the night of 12 to 13 August. A particularly large number of shooting stars will be visible after midnight and into the early hours of the morning. As it is a new moon at the same time, there will be no bright moonlight to interfere. Under ideal conditions, 50 to 100 meteors per hour are possible; in reality, the number visible depends primarily on cloud cover, ambient light and a clear view.
The Perseids occur when the Earth crosses the dust trail left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Its particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, creating the visible streaks of light. A telescope is not required to observe them. The key factors are a location that is as dark as possible and an unobstructed view of the sky.
Watching the Perseids from a boat: dark, unobstructed and safe
Dark bays and moorings without bright lighting from harbours, promenades or restaurants are best suited. The viewing spot should, if possible, be chosen whilst it is still light. It is important to have a safe mooring, to check the weather and wind conditions, and to ensure the boat is fitted with the necessary lighting for the vessel and the area. You should only start observing the shooting stars once the boat is safely moored and no one needs to be at the helm.
If you’d like to spend the night at anchor, you’ll find the most important information here Tips for safe anchoring. If you need to make your way to your mooring in the dark, the BOOTE tips on safe night-time driving.
Germany:
1. Spiekeroog
This official ‘Star Island’ boasts one of the darkest skies in Germany. The viewing spots in the dunes, on the beach or at the ‘Dunkelort’ below the Utkiekers are particularly recommended. The harbour in Neuharlingersiel is the departure point for ferries and boats to Spiekeroog.
2. Pellworm
As Schleswig-Holstein’s first ‘Star Island’, Pellworm boasts an exceptionally dark night sky. The island is consistently reducing artificial lighting and setting up special ‘stargazing’ spots. You can reach Pellworm by boat via the ferry terminal at Strucklahnungshörn on the Nordstrand peninsula.
3. Westhavelland Nature Park
Although not primarily known for boat trips, the Westhavelland Star Park offers an interesting option for sailors on the Havel. Activities such as moonlight paddling are available here, and you can paddle along the river in a small boat or canoe whilst enjoying the starry sky.
Denmark:
1. Møn and Nyord
These Danish islands were designated Northern Europe’s first Dark Sky Parks in 2017. Nyord Harbour offers 55 berths with all the necessary facilities. There are several harbours on Møn, including Stege, Klintholm and Hårbølle. Both islands offer organised stargazing tours, with telescopes and expert guides provided.
2. Anholt
This remote island between Denmark and Sweden boasts one of the darkest skies in the region. Marina Anholt is a popular stop-off point for sailors in the summer.
Where do the Perseids get their name from?
The Perseids take their name from the constellation Perseus, from which the shooting stars appear to originate. This point in the sky is known as the radiant. The name is derived from the Greek word ‘Perseids’, which means ‘the sons of Perseus’ in Greek mythology.
In Greek mythology, Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danaë, famous for beheading Medusa. Although the name derives from the constellation, the actual origin of the Perseids is a dust cloud from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, through which the Earth passes every year as it orbits the Sun.
Photographing the Perseids: How to take great photos from a boat
Photographing shooting stars from a boat presents particular challenges, but also offers unique perspectives:
1. Stabilise the equipment
Stability is particularly important on a boat. You should use a heavy tripod – this also applies to filming with a smartphone – and, if possible, the boat should be securely moored in as calm a bay as possible whilst filming. It should be calm enough in the harbour, but it’s better to go out onto the jetty. Tips for safe anchoring We have summarised these in this article.
2. Camera settings
System camera or SLR camera
- Use a wide-angle lens with a fast aperture (f/2.8 or wider)
- Set the camera to manual mode (M)
- ISO between 1600 and 3200
- Exposure time between 15 and 30 seconds
- Manually focus to infinity
- White balance between 3400 and 4000 K
Smartphone
- Manual exposure settings
- Wide-angle camera
- Long exposure times (at least 10 seconds)
- Ideally, a night mode
- Switch off the flash
If the standard camera app does not allow manual settings, a camera app with adjustable exposure time, ISO sensitivity and manual focus may be helpful. Before setting out at night, you should test whether long-exposure mode and night mode work reliably on your smartphone.
3. Recording techniques
- Do not point the camera directly at the constellation Perseus. The light trails appear longer when the camera is positioned further away from the apparent point of origin. It is advisable to frame as dark and expansive a section of the sky as possible, with the boat or the horizon in the foreground.
- Take photos continuously, without waiting for a shooting star to appear. If you only take the shot once it becomes visible, it’ll be too late. That means lots of useless photos, but you can always delete them afterwards
- Do not move the camera between shots
- Using several cameras increases your chances
The Northern Lights are also a popular subject for boaters to photograph. We’ve put together some tips on what to look out for in this article compiled.
Why do people make a wish when they see a shooting star?
The custom of making a wish when you see a shooting star dates back to ancient times and has evolved over the centuries across various cultures.
The ancient Greeks regarded shooting stars as messages from the gods – the perfect moment to make a wish. In the Middle Ages, another beautiful belief emerged: it was thought that angels polished the stars, and if a glowing ‘heavenly wick’ fell to Earth in the process, an angel was present – a favourable opportunity to make a wish.
The name ‘Sternschnuppe’ itself comes from the medieval word ‘Schnuppe’, which referred to the charred end of a candle wick. People saw similarities between the glowing wick ends that fell to the floor when candles were trimmed and the streaks of light in the sky.
The Rules of Wishing
- The wish must not be spoken aloud
- You should make a wish whilst the shooting star is still visible
- You shouldn’t tell anyone what you’ve wished for
Psychological significance
Although there is no scientific evidence that shooting stars grant wishes, this custom has a profound psychological effect. The magical moment of a shooting star makes us pause and formulate our deepest wishes. This process can help us recognise our true goals and motivate us to work towards achieving them.
The universal nature of this custom brings people together across generations and cultures. It allows us, for a brief moment, to believe in the magic of the universe and to express our hopes – a timeless ritual that wonderfully combines science and imagination.
Cockpit Whispers: The Perseids Story
You can read the following story aloud to your family, children, grandchildren or friends whilst you’re observing from the cockpit. Incidentally, red light is best for this, as it doesn’t disrupt the dark adaptation we need to observe celestial objects.
The Dance of the Perseids
A story for nights when shooting stars appear
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, when the sky was still full of mysteries and people looked up at the stars to find answers. In a small fishing village on the coast lived a girl called Stella. Stella loved the sea and the starry sky that was reflected in it at night. She could sit for hours in the little cove where her father’s boat was moored, gazing up from the glistening water towards the stars.
She often sat there with her grandfather. The old sailor, with his weather-beaten face and eyes as blue as the deep sea, could read the sky like a map. In the past, they had shown him the way across the open sea. “Soon the Tears of Perseus will fall,” he said softly in his deep, calm voice, pointing up at the starry sky. “Fishermen have called them that for generations, because they appear every year in August, when the constellation Perseus is high in the sky.” “Tears?” asked Stella. “Why are the stars crying, Grandfather?”
The old man smiled and put his arm round his granddaughter. “It’s a story as old as seafaring itself. Would you like to hear it?”
"Yes," said Stella, her eyes sparkling, and she snuggled up to her grandfather.
"In ancient times, when the gods still walked amongst mortals, there lived a brave hero named Perseus. Zeus, the father of the gods, was his father, yet Perseus grew up as an ordinary boy. One day, he was given a dangerous task: he was to slay Medusa, a fearsome creature with snake-like hair, whose gaze turned anyone to stone. The gods gave Perseus a mirrored shield, winged sandals and a helmet that made him invisible. Thus equipped, he found Medusa and killed her without looking directly into her eyes.
On his way back, he passed through a gorge with towering cliffs. He caught a faint glimpse of a strange statue. Her pale face glowed against the rugged rock face. Her body looked so lifeless that he thought she had been carved from marble. But when the wind gently ruffled her hair and a solitary tear ran down her cheek, he realised that she was alive.
Andromeda was to be sacrificed and was chained to the rock. Her mother had angered the sea god Poseidon and his sea monster by claiming that Andromeda was more beautiful than the sea nymphs. Perseus rescued her, and Andromeda became his wife. They lived happily ever after.
The gods were so delighted by Perseus’s heroic deeds that, after their deaths, they placed him and Andromeda in the sky as constellations. But what most people don’t know is that every summer, Perseus comes to life. He sweeps his sword across the night sky, cutting out small pieces of it. These then fall to Earth as shining tears – not out of sorrow, but out of joy at his eternal love for Andromeda.
"And so, year after year, the Perseids show us that true love and courage never fade, but live on forever in the sky."
Stella’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight. “And when will we get to see those tears, Grandad?”
"Soon, my little one. They’ll be at their most numerous over the next few nights. We’ll take the boat and head out to where the sea is dark and the sky is clear."
Three nights later, Grandad sailed out onto the calm sea with Stella. They dropped anchor in a sheltered cove, far away from any lights in the village. There, they spread blankets out on the deck and lay on their backs, gazing up at the starry sky.
The evening was warm, the sea calm, and the sky gradually grew darker until the stars sparkled like diamonds on black velvet. The soft lapping of the waves against the boat’s hull and the occasional creak of the wood made her feel tired, and she drifted off to sleep. “Look, Stella!” her grandfather shook her gently. “There, in the north-east, Perseus is rising.” The girl rubbed her eyes sleepily and looked up. Suddenly, a streak of light shot across the sky – fast, bright. No sooner had she noticed it than it was gone again. Stella held her breath. Then a second, and a third, like liquid silver raining down from the sky. “Tears,” she whispered in awe.
The night wore on, and with every hour the shooting stars grew more numerous. Sometimes they fell one by one, then again in small showers, as if invisible hands were scattering glittering dust across the sky. “Many people believe that if you make a wish when you see a shooting star, that wish will come true,” said Grandad. “Because for a brief moment, the gods open the door to heaven.”
“Well, I’d like to make a wish too!” said Stella. “I wish that one day I could sail the seas in my own boat, with a compass and guided by the stars, just like you.” The old sailor nodded contentedly.
"Will the Perseids return next year?" asked Stella. "Yes," he replied. "They return every year, as surely as the tides. Even a thousand years from now, people will still be able to see the Tears of Perseus."
The girl smiled. “Then one day I’ll tell this story to my children and grandchildren,” she said resolutely, “just as you’ve told it to me.”
The old man gently squeezed her shoulder. “That’s the most beautiful thing about the stars, Stella. They connect us all – across generations, across seas and continents. We all look up at the same sky, see the same lights and ask ourselves the same questions.”
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital