THE annual Perseid meteor shower it peaks overnight on Sunday and before dawn on Monday, giving skywatchers around the world the chance to enjoy one of the best shooting star displays of the year.
The Perseids are usually one of the most anticipated skywatching events of the year because the rain tends to produce a high rate of shooting stars. Weather permitting, stargazers will be able to see up to 100 per hour in dark places.
“Not only is the shower rich in bright meteors and fireballs – No. 1, in fact – but it also peaks in mid-August when the weather is still warm and comfortable,” Bill Cooke, who leads Meteoroid Environment Office on NASA’s Marshall Space Flight. Center in Alabama, said in a NASA blog post.
Experts are predicting favorable conditions for this year’s spectacle, particularly because the moon will set around 11:30 pm local time, meaning the shooting stars won’t be washed out by the bright moonlight.
If conditions are clear, it’s best to choose an unobstructed viewing location under the darkest possible sky, away from city lights and other forms of light pollution.
In the Northern Hemisphere, stargazers should go out between midnight and dawn. NASA recommends letting your eyes adjust to the dark for about 45 minutes and avoiding looking at cell phones or other bright screens.
Although the peak of the meteor shower will likely produce the highest rate of shooting stars, the Perseid meteors have been visible for weeks – and will continue to be seen after this weekend. Rain occurs annually, from mid-July to the end of August.
It occurs when the Earth passes through a cloud of dust particles and debris left over from a comet known as 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The light rays are created when the pieces hit the atmosphere and vaporize, leaving behind behind bright trails as they disintegrate.
This article was originally published in NBCNews. with
