NASA has dubbed the Perseid meteor shower the “fireball champion” of annual meteor showers and this year it promises to be a sight to remember. The dazzling display of shooting stars will illuminate the night sky from Saturday, August 12, to the early hours of Sunday, August 13. With up to 100 meteors per hour, the Perseid meteor shower will be a cosmic spectacle not to be missed.
The best time to catch this extraordinary event is between 10:30 PM to 4:30 AM in your local time zone. The moon will be barely visible, with only a faint glow from its waning crescent phase, setting the perfect backdrop for the Perseids to shine through. Astronomers recommend heading to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States for the ultimate viewing experience.
Named after the constellation Perseus in the northern sky, which takes its name from the Greek mythological hero Perseus, the Perseid meteors appear to emanate from this constellation. This year, on the night of August 12, stargazers will have the opportunity to witness this stunning meteor shower without the need for a telescope.
NASA has declared the Perseids as the top producers of fireballs among all meteor showers, which occur every year. These meteors originate from the Swift-Tuttle comet, a massive 16-mile-wide comet that last passed close to Earth in 1992. Every August, as Earth orbits the sun, it passes through the debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet during its 133-year-long journey around our solar system.
According to Bill Cooke, head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office, Comet Swift-Tuttle produces a significant number of meteoroids, many of which are large enough to create fireballs. To witness these fireballs, Cooke advises finding a dark location away from city lights and light pollution.
The Perseid meteor shower is sometimes referred to as the “Tears of St. Lawrence” as it usually occurs near the Feast of St. Lawrence on August 10. This year, the rate of Perseid meteors seen from a dark rural area could reach up to 100 shooting stars per hour, according to NASA.
Similar to previous Perseid events, the meteor rate will start low but gradually increase as the night progresses. The meteor shower usually reaches its peak just before sunrise, coinciding with Perseus, the namesake constellation, reaching its highest point in the evening sky.
Compared to last year’s full moon, this year promises to be a fantastic viewing opportunity, as stated by Cooke. The Perseid meteoroids, left in Earth’s path by Comet Swift-Tuttle, will intensely burn in the atmosphere, traveling at a staggering speed of 132,000 mph or 37 miles per second. The Perseids are known for their brilliant fireballs, making them the most prolific meteor shower.
These celestial events pose no threat to human observers or any living beings below, as they usually burn up in our planet’s atmosphere before reaching the surface. Observers on the west coast of North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean are in an ideal position to enjoy this year’s Perseids, according to the UK’s Royal Astronomical Society.
Unlike other astronomical events, meteor showers are best observed with the naked eye. No special equipment is required to witness these luminous celestial bodies at their best. If cloudy skies hinder the view on August 12, the Perseids will continue on subsequent nights, albeit less brilliantly as Earth moves away from the Swift-Tuttle debris field.
The next significant meteor shower to look forward to after the Perseids is the Draconids in October, although it is typically less active. The Draconids come from the debris of comet 21 P/Giacobini-Zinner, a smaller comet with a diameter of 1.24 miles. The only meteor shower comparable to the Perseids, according to NASA’s Cooke, is the Geminid meteor shower, which unfortunately occurs in the winter season.
For those keen on observing a meteor shower this year, the Perseids this month is a must-see event, according to Cooke. He suggests finding a comfortable spot, lying back, and enjoying the magnificent sky as the Perseids whiz past.
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