How to spot the Perseid meteor shower, a summer light show that promises to dazzle
Summary
The Perseid meteor shower is returning this summer, offering excellent viewing opportunities in the Northern Hemisphere. The peak night coincides with a total solar eclipse and a six-planet alignment, with the best meteor viewing after the eclipse ends.Key Facts
- The Perseid meteor shower peaks from Wednesday night to Thursday morning.
- It happens when Earth passes through debris left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
- The comet orbits the sun every 133 years and will return in 2125.
- NASA says up to 50-100 meteors per hour may be visible under perfect conditions.
- The American Meteor Society estimates 30-50 meteors per hour in rural areas.
- The moon is in its new moon phase during the peak, so moonlight won't interfere.
- Meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, highest in the northern sky after midnight.
- To best see the meteors, find a dark, open area and let your eyes adjust for about 30 minutes.
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