Annual Perseid Meteor Shower on August 11: see details

The annual celestial event known as the Perseid meteor shower will be visible from Wednesday night. It is expected to reach its peak before dawn on Thursday (August 12).

Many sky-watchers said that this year’s conditions can almost perfectly watch the meteor shower.

What is the Perseid meteor shower?

The tail of comet Swift-Tuttle deposited a cloud of dust in space. Every year, the earth passes through this area-it starts around July 17 and lasts until August 24.

During this period, when the earth crosses the densest part of the thin “river of rubble” (around August 12), it will trigger the peak of the meteor shower.

The comet got its name because it was independently discovered by Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle in July 1862.

Where will this be visible?

According to earthsky.org reports, the Perseid meteor shower will be visible in the northern hemisphere and central and southern latitudes.

EarthSky further reported that it is expected to see as many as 60 meteors per hour during peak showers.

Those who are interested in watching a meteor shower need to find the darkest place away from the city lights. Although the shooting stars are shining, the same bright moon can make viewing a bit tricky.

When is the best time to watch a meteor shower?

Experts say that astronomers can catch the best glimpses of meteors shortly after dusk. By then, the radiant point of the meteor shower-its origin perspective in Perseus-has risen above the northeast horizon.

The higher the radiation, the more meteors you see.

Sky & Telescope observation editor Diana Hannikainen (Diana Hannikainen) said that these “shooting stars” can appear anywhere in the sky.

Do you need special equipment to watch?

No, the experts said. All you have to do is to find a dark spot as far away as possible from bright lights, and to open your field of vision as much as possible.

Those who are relaxing can also see the meteor shower-either on the recliner or on the ground cloth.

The faint Perseus looks like small, fast stripes. Occasionally brighter ones may sail in the sky for a few seconds and leave behind a short burst of glowing smoke.

What is a meteor?

Meteors are caused by tiny dust fragments the size of grains of sand to pea hitting the top of the Earth’s atmosphere about 80 miles (130 kilometers). Each Perseus pulls in at a speed of 37 miles per second, glows when burned into soot, and produces fast, white-hot superheated air.

The grains in Grape Nuts are very close to the estimated size, color and texture of typical meteor shower grains.