The annual Perseid meteor shower will peak between Sunday night and dawn on Monday, giving skywatchers around the world the chance to enjoy one of the most spectacular shooting star shows of the year.
The Perseid meteor shower is usually one of the most anticipated stargazing events of the year due to the high incidence of shooting stars. If the weather is good, you may be able to see up to 100 meteors per hour from a dark location.
“Not only is this shower rich in bright meteors and fireballs (the most so far in the world, in fact), it also peaks when it's still warm and comfortable in mid-August,” says Bill Cook, director of the Meteor Environment Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. NASA said in a blog post.
Experts predict that conditions will be favorable for this year's meteor show, especially since the moon will set around 11:30 p.m. local time, meaning bright moonlight will not obscure the shooting stars.
If the weather is good, it's best to choose an unobstructed viewing location under the darkest possible sky, away from city lights and other light pollution.
In the Northern Hemisphere, stargazing is best done between midnight and dawn. NASA recommends giving your eyes about 45 minutes to adjust to the darkness and avoiding looking at bright screens, such as cell phones.
While the peak of the meteor shower is when you'll have the highest chance of seeing meteors, the Perseids have been visible for several weeks and should continue to be visible after this weekend. The meteor shower occurs annually from mid-July to late August.
This occurs as Earth passes through a cloud of dust particles and debris left behind by a comet known as 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The light streaks are caused when the debris impacts the atmosphere, vaporizes, and leaves a bright trail as it disintegrates.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
