The Brightest Meteor Shower of the Perseids Will Be Observed This Year

• The Perseids will reach their peak at the closest time, but this month will hinder the observation.
• It is recommended to observe the meteors two weeks after the peak.
• The observation will last until September 23.

Washington — The brightest meteor shower of the year, Perseids, will reach its peak at the closest time. This year, the bright moon will hinder observation during the peak on the night of August 12-13, so some experts recommend waiting two weeks to see falling stars against the dark sky.

The Perseids "are an incredible meteor shower," noted Thaddeus Lacourse, coordinator of the planetarium program at the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota. Under clear skies, the Perseids can produce between 60 to 100 meteors per hour. Since the moon will be about 84% full during the peak, observers can expect between 10 to 20 meteors per hour, along with American meteor enthusiasts.

This year, I recommend people to go out three nights after the peak, when the moon will not be as bright, added Lacourse. Observations of the Perseids will last until September 23.

What is a meteor shower?

When Earth passes through the debris left by a comet, several times a year, meteors come from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. When these fast-moving cosmic rocks enter Earth's atmosphere, they stick to the air resistance and heat up, glowing as they burn up. Some briefly light up the sky, leaving behind their fiery trail — the end of the "falling star."

To observe different meteor showers that appear sporadically, no special equipment is needed, just a place away from city lights.

How to observe a meteor shower

The best time for observing a meteor shower is in the early hours before dawn, when the moon is low in the sky. The main prerequisites for clear observation of meteors are a bright sky, such as when the moon is out or artificial lighting. Moonless nights when the moon is smallest are optimal for observation.

It is also important not to look up. Your eyes are better adapted to observing falling stars if you do not stare at your phone.

When will the next meteor shower occur?

The next major meteor shower, the Orionids, will reach its peak in late October.

Tags: Technology/Space