The Perseid meteor shower will peak early Wednesday morning.
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No matter who you are, no matter what you do, no matter if you’re into the astrology or astronomy business, you can not miss the Perseid meteor shower. Fortunately, the slender waning crescent moon rising at or near dawn will not obtrude on this year’s shower.
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will host a four-hour live Ustream broadcast about the Perseid meteor shower, on Wednesday starting at 10 p.m. Bill Cooke, Danielle Moser and Rhiannon Blaauw, all of NASA’s Micrometeoroid Office, will provide Perseid commentary and will answer questions online, using Marshall social media accounts.
According to the BBC, the phenomenon happens each year in August the Earth passes through a cloud of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. You won’t need any special observing equipment, all you need is to be wide awake and keep your eyes largely open. These fiery streaks of light should be visible to the naked eye that evening.
In order to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower to the fullest, you must travel away from light.
Cloud cover forecasts suggest the viewing will be good over much of the eastern and western U.S., with the potential for cloudiness from the central Rockies to the Upper Midwest. Some of the strongest showings happening in the predawn hours. However, the cosmic show reaches its peak during the midnight of around August. 12 and 13.
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The meteor shower is composed of particles released from Comet 109/Swift-Tuttle during its many trips to the inner solar system, a region comprising terrestrial planets and asteroids. Without moonlight, the meteors will be easier to spot in the dark night sky.
