Soon, the Perseids, the most spectacular meteor shower of the summer, will climax.
Some experts advise waiting a week or so to see shooting stars against a darker sky because this year’s full moon will impede viewing at the peak time, which is early Wednesday morning.
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According to Thaddeus LaCoursiere, coordinator of the planetarium program at the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Perseids “are an incredible meteor shower.”
According to him, the Perseids can emit 60 to 100 meteors each hour under dark, moonless sky. According to the American Meteor Society, skywatchers may anticipate 10 to 20 meteors per hour during the peak, when the moon will be about 84% full.
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A week or so after the peak, when the moon will not be as bright, LaCoursiere added, “I’m actually recommending that people go out a little bit later this year.”
The Perseids can be seen through August 23.
What is a meteor shower?
The Earth passes through debris left by passing comets and occasionally asteroids on multiple occasions throughout the year as it revolves around the sun.
Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle debris is the source of the Perseids.
The debris meets fresh air resistance when these swift space rocks hit Earth’s atmosphere, gets extremely hot, and finally burns up.
Occasionally, the air around a shooting star temporarily glows, leaving behind a blazing tail.
If you choose a location away from city lights, you can witness the different meteor showers that occur every year without the need for special equipment.
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How to view a meteor shower
The early predawn hours, when the moon is low in the sky, are the greatest times to see a meteor shower.
The biggest barriers to seeing meteors clearly are competing light sources like a brilliant moon or artificial lighting. The best viewing times are on cloudless nights when the moon is at its smallest.
And continue to look up rather than down. If you are not looking at your phone, your eyes will be more suited to detect shooting stars.
When is the next meteor shower?
Late October marks the climax of the Orionids, the next significant meteor shower.
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The Science and Educational Media Group of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute provides support to the Associated Press Health and Science Department. All content is entirely the AP’s responsibility.
