The Perseid meteor shower is one we can count on every summer to put on a big show, weather permitting, and this year’s event reaches its peak tonight. Late Sunday night until dawn Monday will be the best time to see the Perseids, according to NASA. You’ll want to find a viewing location with clear, dark skies, but you won’t need any special equipment to make the most of the experience – meteors should be plentiful and visible to the naked eye.
The Perseids occur annually at the end of July and last for several weeks. These meteors (or shooting stars) occur when debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle interacts with Earth’s atmosphere, creating colorful bands of light as the pieces burn up. At its peak, the phenomenon can bring up to 100 meteors per hour. And the Perseids are known for putting on an even more spectacular light show. “The Perseids are also known for their fireballs,” according to NASA. “Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger particles of cometary material.”
So find a good spot – preferably after the moon sets – look up and wait. You will be able to see some natural fireworks.
