Perseid Meteor Shower Promises A Spectacular Display Wednesday Night

It’s known for having fast and bright meteors that are easy to see, and occurs in August each year. “You can see the train hanging there glowing in the sky for a few seconds – sometimes for several minutes – after the meteor has gone”.

The Perseids were keenly anticipated this year as they coincided with a new moon, creating the ideal dark sky conditions, and were also briefly joined overhead by a bright man-made star, the worldwide Space Station (ISS).

The major meteor shower will be visible all over the Northern Hemisphere.

“The Perseids have been observed for at least 2,000 years and are associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun once every 133 years”, NASA reported.

They are named after the Perseus constellation in the northeastern part of the sky, from which the meteors appear to fall.

Well, it’s already going on now but astronomers believe 11pm will be the best time to view the show.

You will want to get as far away from city lights to give yourself the best chance of viewing.

Michelle’s Forecast: More sunshine, then great night for meteor shower!:. Each August, Earth passes through the comet’s debris, which is 1,000-year-old dust and ice.

“We’ll be able to see much fainter streaks, and the background stars will be even more brilliant”, Constantine Tsang, senior planetary scientist at the Southwest Research Institute and a field team member of the Antarctic Search for Meteorites, told Outside.

“With the moon absent from the sky, observers under clear, dark skies can expect to see up to 100 “shooting stars” per hour, the maximum rate possible”, according to Astronomy Magazine. With binoculars or a telescope you’re just focusing in on a very narrow area. For optimal viewing, find an open skyline where you can view the horizon without obstructions such as buildings or trees.