On the evening of Wednesday, August 12th, the world will be blessed with one of Mother Nature’s most enchanting natural wonders: the Perseids meteor shower.
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Meteors often come in clusters close together, and they fly by at about 133,000 miles per hour, so they can be easy to miss, according to Vox. “The Moon will be almost new, setting the stage for a great display”. The darkness of the countryside multiplies the visible meteor rate 3- to 10-fold compared to city views. The Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus because that is where the meteors seem to originate from when looking up at the sky.
Pop those popcorns, spread those blankets, and ready those wishes, because tonight we’re going to have one of the best meteor showers of the year.
When is the Perseid meteor shower happening? If you plan on viewing the Perseids this year you won’t need any special equipment, but you will want to give yourself about 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness of the night. As many as 90-100 meteors per hour are possible at the peak late tonight.
The chance of seeing meteors is higher than normal this year because the peak coincides with the new moon, that means the sky will be dark with no moonlight to inhibit viewing.
NPR’s Geoff Brumfiel spoke with Rhiannon Blaauw of NASA’s Meteroid Environment Office last year, about tips on watching the Perseids.
“Either find a park or a school yard that’s nearby, and, as long as you don’t have direct lights hitting your face, then you’ll be able to see some of the brighter meteors”, Mortfield told the Star.
How best to enjoy the meteor show? Avoid buildings and trees that block your view. No telescopes or binoculars are necessary.
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Remote locations, such as Manitoulin Island, are particularly good for dark skies.
