(Go here to see livestreaming of the meteor shower from NASA.). The debris, which is mostly bits of ice and dust created hundreds of years ago, burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere.
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The show will air from 9 p.m. CDT Wednesday night until 1 a.m. CDT Thursday morning. This year, it should be much better than previous years since the shooting stars, or meteors, will be easier to see in a darkened sky with no moonlight.
“With very fast and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long “wakes” of light and color behind them as they streak through the Earth’s atmosphere”, NASA said. Experts recommend giving yourself at least one hour of viewing time and you may want to add some more time after you see some Perseids. “You will see meteors earlier in the evening but the rate increases as the radiant point (where the meteors appear to come from) rises higher in the sky”, said Shanil Virani with the JMU Planetarium.
The Perseids, which are considered the best meteor shower of the year, can bring 50 to 100 meteors an hour.
A new Moon on August 14 makes for dark skies all night, meaning there’s an excellent chance of seeing the meteor shower. But the best place to see the shower will be in a rural setting away from the brightness of the city. “Plus, this shower can be enjoyed during summer’s warmth”, the article stated, “unlike the often nippy nights during the Leonids of November or Geminids of December”.
The annual Perseid meteor shower happens every August when Earth passes through debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle. You will not need any special equipment like a telescope or binoculars.
“Meteors from Comet Swift-Tuttle are called Perseids because they seem to fly out of the constellation Perseus”.
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