Perseid Meteor Shower: A Note on the Power of Wishing

Slowly Bidding Farewell to Summer Nights with the Perseids Before Autumn

Perseid Meteor Shower | August 2025

Dear Travel Journal,

There is one more moment as special as hiking in nature or organizing picnics that romanticize life. Watching the sky in the infinity of the night. Not in shades of green, but in black, when those who are worthy of showing themselves shine. The moments of those who are not afraid to show their light despite all the darkness.

In nature, we can notice how trees with less-than-perfect curves or bugs that look ugly at first glance actually and bravely display what is truly perfect, if we know how to see it.

These moments remind me to ask myself: What is actually perfect? What do we mean by perfect?

This week, we will touch on these a little and on the power of wanting, inspired by the dazzling passage of the Perseids.

A Dazzling Procession

If there's one thing I remember from Augusts in recent years, it’s the plans we made to watch the Perseid meteor shower. This year, the best time to observe it is between August 12-13.

First, let's take a step back and look at the technical details of this annual event.

Scientific Facts:

• When to see it: Active every year between July 17 and August 23, with the peak usually occurring on the nights of August 11-13.

• Peak time (2025): The night of August 12-13 is ideal, as the moonlight will be at a minimum.

• Source: Debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet.

• Speed: Meteors travel at speeds of up to 210,000 km/h.

• Average number of meteors observed: Between 50 and 100 per hour in dark areas.

  
  

Where to watch:

• It can be watched from any location with a clear sky, far from city lights.

• It's more clearly visible in the Northern Hemisphere.

• It can take 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Quick Facts

But This Year, There’s a Catch:

• The full moon on August 9 (just before the peak) will still be quite bright during peak days.

• This moonlight will wash out fainter meteors, so while the Perseids usually offer 50–100 meteors per hour, this year you might only spot a dozen or so mostly the brightest ones.

• Still, under dark skies away from city lights, the show can be meaningful and magical.

Noisy Breakdowns, Slow-Evolving Beginnings, and the Infinity of the Sky

Non-perfect moments that create a wonderful harmony are hidden in nature. In these moments, there's something real.

The most important developments in our lives also happen spontaneously.

We don't welcome them with a perfect ceremony. On the contrary, we meet our best friend, find the love of our life, or have a good time at unexpected moments. The experiences we have gained up to that point have been our preparation process. This is why there is something special about slow-evolving beginnings, not noisy breakdowns.

If we forget that every step we take leads us to the goal and seek meaning in the last step, we are lost. Mistakes don't happen all at once either. Those friendships formed at unexpected moments don't end suddenly. What matters is what was done until that point. Causes give rise to consequences.

Transformative, Quiet Times

This August feels just like that.

A month full of quiet beginnings that somehow prepare us for the new beginnings of September.

For me, this time is like the moment just before the pot, where the food inside has already been cooked, is taken off the stove and intensely heated for the last time. It’s as if we're about to serve the meal we've been cooking slowly by adding all the ingredients in order. It is a time when I am both very hungry and still ready to wait a few minutes after turning off the stove.

August is, therefore, a great opportunity to turn inward if you feel like I do. And to be honest, I don't think there's anything better to do in this warm weather than prepare ourselves to close the stove and move on to the meal.

This is why this week I am writing about the Perseid Meteor Shower and my powerful relationship with the sky. There is something about the infinity of the sky that draws me in.

This piece, which I wrote with this inspiration, may remind you to slow down enough to hear your own heart.

Festina Lente

Let's leave behind performance-oriented haste. I have never liked rushing. I think it makes room for mistakes.

A Latin is saying that I love, "festina lente," which means "make haste slowly." As one of our slogans at VAGMAG, it reminds me of the importance of planning and intelligently calculated risks.

Let's also slowly put aside the noise, deadlines, and the pressure of always having to catch up. When we put aside all these things that tire us out, seeing that there is nothing to be afraid of is what we need right now.

Let's make room for lying on a deck chair and doing nothing. Let's become aware of the moments of dipping our feet in the cool water and lifting our heads to the sky. Let's make room for the magic of the night as much as the day in our lives.

We're in the last weeks of summer. Before the new season begins, and before the Nature Quarter arrives in VAGMAG, it does no harm to just take a look back and examine the path we have taken.

Let's let the sun linger on our skin a little longer before we put on our thin jackets in autumn.

The Place of Wishing, of Wanting in Our Lives

Think of the Perseid meteor shower as a waterfall of wishes. We're talking about a time when the moments of seeing a shooting star and making a wish can go up to a hundred per hour. On August 12-13, during its peak, don't forget to make a few wishes for yourself first.

There is no limit to what we can want. We cannot get without wanting. And to get, we must first want.

I think this is why I have always loved learning and using Spanish. The verb "querer," to want, is so prominent in everyday language, from ordering food to making plans with a friend, that it was no coincidence that it caught my attention after a short time.

During my time in Spain, being exposed to this verb every day allowed me to turn inward as someone who had previously valued and worked to meet the desires of others. In doing so, I had many opportunities to think about what I truly wanted.

What do I want to eat? Where do I want to go? Who do I want to spend my time with? These were not questions I had often asked myself or had been asked until this time in my life. Until then, I ate the food that was available, went to the usual places, and saw the usual people.

When I started being asked what I wanted, I, too, began to think about what I wanted. The simple act of deciding what to eat or what to drink at a cafe, and the opportunity to try different options in a different culture, gradually began to extend these moments of questioning beyond daily life decisions.

I no longer just thought about who I wanted to see, but about what kind of future I wanted. Because that, too, was as predictable a decision as what I would eat until that point, but starting to think about what I wanted also reminded me of the possibility that I could change it. That's why the question that came to my mind after simple decisions was:

What kind of future do I want?

How Traditions Are Created

As you know, the Perseid Meteor Shower happens regularly every year.

We are talking about one of the special times of the year when you can watch nearly a hundred meteors per hour. I think it is definitely a time worth making plans and escaping the chaos of the city for a bit of rural tranquility.

Moreover, it is said that fireballs can also be seen during this meteor shower.

If there is one tradition I want to continue at VAGMAG for years to come, it would definitely be watching the annual Perseid Meteor Shower just as people watched it from the sky thousands of years ago.

Adopting this shared heritage of humanity as a tradition at VAGMAG might be my wish this year when I watch the Perseids.

Transience and the Beauty of the Moment

Meteors shine for a moment and then disappear; these moments can be likened to some relationships, emotions, or some summer nights.

Although we know how important the career we build slowly is, or as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said in The Little Prince, that what matters is the time we devote to our rose, some intense emotional moments also become unforgettable in our lives. This beauty of nature is valuable for questioning the decisions we make to remember these periods of our lives.

The past is an opportunity to learn, and the past closest to us is our own.

Perhaps the stars that shine for a moment and then vanish in all the darkness also have something they want to say. Like how looking at the sky at night makes us feel our tiny place in the universe but also reminds us of our belonging to a whole. As I mentioned in my article about swallows last week, their individuality is as important as their harmony with collective life.

Moreover, meteors, like swallows, leave a trail in the sky but don't truly belong anywhere.

2025 Perseid Meteor Shower Observation and the Effect of the Full Moon

This year, the 2025 Perseid Meteor Shower has a disadvantage. Since it will be on August 12, just a few days after the full moon, the sky will be quite bright, meaning that all but the brightest meteors will be overshadowed on this night.

Still, for those of you who want to give it another chance after this peak time, the final traces of the Perseids will be more visible on the 16th, as the sky will be darker.

You will choose which one to give a chance to.

Get Away from the Lights, Get Used to the Dark, and Seize the Moment

If we are to talk about what you can do to watch the Perseids in the best way, first of all, I hope this article inspires you if you still don't have a plan. I think it will be a good opportunity for you to see if you want to give your wishes a chance, and what you want from life.

Getting away from city lights and letting your eyes adjust to the darkness for about half an hour is one of the most important pieces of advice given. It also takes us some time to observe when we enter a new environment. I can explain the angle from which you should look at the sky with this metaphor.

We don't look directly at anyone in any new environment we enter, do we? Similarly, you shouldn't look at the Perseids at a 90-degree angle, that is, directly, with your head on the ground. Pulling your chin slightly to your chest will give better results, not much, just a little.

With this method, you will neither disturb anyone with direct looks in a new environment nor can you enjoy watching more impressive meteors.

Some of us also leave a bigger mark in life, with all eyes still on them.

Alternative Locations for Viewing the Perseids Around the World

While we can watch the meteors by getting as far away from city lights as possible, I want to talk about seven places around the world where we can watch this visual feast.

1. Hvolsvöllur, Iceland

Located on Iceland's southern coast, Hvolsvöllur is known for its volcanic landscapes and vast, cloudless sky. This region, where the Northern Lights are also frequently seen, offers an ideal location for a meteor shower. Watching the Northern Lights in winter and the meteor shower during the transition from summer to autumn is like witnessing Iceland's cosmic dance.

2. Atacama Desert, Chile

As the driest place in the world, the Atacama Desert is almost always cloud-free. The high-altitude desert, with zero light pollution, is home to some of the world's largest astronomical observatories.

Lying on the red sand dunes of Atacama and watching the Perseids pass on a moonless night feels like traveling back in time.

3. Exmoor National Park, UK

Exmoor is a tranquil refuge, far from the noise of cities. As the first area in the UK to be designated an "International Dark Sky Reserve," it’s perfect for observing the night sky. In this place where history and nature are intertwined, looking at the sky is like connecting with the generations who have watched the same sky for thousands of years.

4. NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia

Located in the heart of the Namib Desert, this nature reserve has been declared an "International Dark Sky Reserve." The vast land, surrounded by sand dunes, is completely free from light pollution. It offers a unique opportunity to watch the sky while listening to the sounds of the wild and experiencing the natural life around you.

5. Hvar and Korčula Islands, Croatia

These islands, with their less light-polluted areas, make for a great Perseid experience. While enjoying the summer, you can swim in turquoise bays during the day and watch the meteor shower at night on a quiet beach, listening to the rhythm of both the sea and the sky.

6. Zselic Starry Sky Park, Hungary

Zselic, located in southwestern Hungary, is one of the best-preserved dark sky areas in Europe. The park is covered with forests and hills, which protect it from light pollution.

There are also specially prepared areas for skywatching. Zselic is an ideal place for those who want to turn inward and leave behind the chaos of city life.

7. Kaş, Turkey

For those who prefer a destination that is easier to reach, the coastal town of Kaş offers stunning views. Its less-lit areas, such as Büyükçakıl Beach, provide a wonderful opportunity to watch the meteor shower.

Here, you can feel the infinity of both the sea and the sky at the same time.

Now it's your turn,

What will you wish for while watching the Perseid meteor shower?

Remember your wishes. In the next article, when I write about the Perseids, I will remind you whether they came true. Maybe next year I'll be preparing the next version of this article from one of the 7 places above.

The wish I made in 2022 in Miradoiro de Vega in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, is still on my mind. I can't say it came true, nor can I say it didn't.

But as I’ve learned on this journey, the true value isn't whether the wish comes true, but what you learn while pursuing it.

with care, Idalia