NASA says the last Perseid outburst was in 2009.
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One of the brightest meteor showers of the year is about to take place.
The Perseids pop up every year, peaking around August 11-13, because that’s when Earth passes through a stream of cosmic grit left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle.
Each year, from mid-July to late-August as Earth crosses the orbital path of Comet Swift-Tuttle, debris from the comet falls into our atmosphere at some 130,000 miles per hour.
As the comet approaches the sun it heats up and gives off a lot of material, which carries on going around the sun in the same orbit as the comet. However, there is a reason for this year’s “outburst” in meteor activity. Some astronomers believe that could mean 150 meteors per hour, while others have a higher estimate of up to 200 meteors per hour. Occasionally, though, Jupiter’s gravity tugs the huge network of dust trails closer, and Earth plows through closer to the middle, where there’s more material.
The moon sets at 1:02 a.m. and as soon as it does you should be able to see more meteors.
The Perseid Meteor Shower is a highlight every August for stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts.
“Forecasters are predicting a Perseid outburst this year with double normal rates”, said Bill Cooke with NASA’s Meteoroid Environments Office in a statement.
The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks Thursday and Friday night.
Though the shower gets its name from the constellation Perseus, which appears in the northeast, the meteors should be visible in all areas of the sky. It’s also recommended to try to find a spot away from buildings, trees and other structures.
Can a meteor hit me?
The Perseid meteor shower, known for its fast and bright meteors, puts on a show each August that will be particularly wonderful late tonight. They burn up as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere at some 130,000mph.
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The next big meteor shower won’t happen until December, when the Geminids Meteor Shower will produce up to 120 meteors per hour.
