Look Up Tonight for the Summer's Peak Meteor Display

Festus, MO · August 12, 2026

Keep an eye out for clear skies after dark — tonight brings the brightest meteor display of the summer right over town.

The Lead

Stargazers across the area are in for a rare treat late tonight as the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its absolute peak. Under nearly moonless midnight skies, local observers away from bright streetlights can expect to see up to 100 meteors per hour streaking across the atmosphere, including vivid fireballs that leave long-lasting glowing trails.

The cosmic show does not stop at meteors. Before dawn on Thursday, early risers can also spot a six-planet alignment rising in the eastern sky, with Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn visible to the naked eye. Nearby open spaces with broad horizon views, including the outer lawns at Crites Park, offer some of the best local vantage points. Stargazing peaks between midnight and 4:00 AM, making tonight the prime window to grab a lawn chair and head outside.

Local Pulse

County Parks Releases Weekly Scavenger Hunt Clues The next clue drops today for a countywide park challenge rewarding local residents who spot hidden staff.
Animal Resource Center Opens Regular Saturday Hours Nearby House Springs shelter expands adoption access and pet reclaim services every weekend from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
County Schedules Five-Year Strategic Capital Hearing Officials set an August 24 public hearing in Hillsboro to present seven priority infrastructure projects.

Today's Outlook

High 101°F · Low 78°F — Overcast
- Stay hydrated and limit direct outdoor exposure during the hottest afternoon hours.

What's On Around Town

Arnold: Open Pickleball Play Arnold Recreation Center (2080 Jeffco Blvd), 12:00–2:00 PM Short drive north, friendly drop-in play for all skill levels.
Perseid Stargazing Gathering Larry G. Crites Memorial Park, 11:00 PM–4:00 AM Late-night lawn access for optimal viewing of peak meteor fireballs.

Spotlight & Story

The Festus Manufacturing Company
- In 1938, Paul Lee Jones Jr. opened a factory inside a Main Street lumber yard building to produce precision slide rules. During the Great Depression, this unlikely workshop turned out complex mathematical instruments right in downtown Festus.

Festus Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

Sent with care by MailerDot — your city, every morning.