The peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower is set to occur this weekend, favored by minimal moonlight and creating an ideal backdrop for the event.
The spectacle: This year’s Perseid meteor shower is expected to be particularly impressive.
* The moon’s waning crescent phase and late rise make for a dark sky conducive to observing the event.
* The peak’s occurrence on a weekend allows many observers to stay up late or wake up early without workday sleep deprivation concerns.
Perseids formation: The meteor shower happens annually when Earth encounters debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet.
* The tiny comet debris, which can be as small as a sand grain, causes the atmospheric glow when they hit the atmosphere at high speeds.
Viewing specifics: The greatest number of meteors are expected to be visible in the early, pre-dawn hours of Sunday, August 13.
* Observers in a moonless dark sky could expect to see roughly 50 to 60 meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn according to Robert Lunsford from American Meteor Society.
* While initial activity will be obscured by the horizon when it first gets dark, meteor source will rise higher in the sky through the night, maximizing activity just before dawn.
Tips for observing: For optimal viewing conditions, choose a location unaffected by ambient light from cities or towns.
* Spend at least 20 to 30 minutes outside for eyes to adjust to the darkness, looking around halfway up the sky, with no need to fixate on any particular direction.
* Keep in mind that meteors will not occur at a same pace; while there might stagnate for a while, numerous meteors could simultaneously shoot across the sky afterwards.
Expert insight: “Sometimes you will see fireballs of different colors that leave a trail in the sky for up to a minute or so. It’s very cool,” says Robert Lunsford.
* Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at New York City’s Hayden Planetarium recommends to stay outside for at least 45 minutes to one hour for the best experience, emphasizing patience as the sky’s way to entertain.
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