The Perseids Meteor Shower: Everything You Need to Know
Every summer the sky lights up in a fantastic natural display of shooting stars. The Perseids meteor shower starts in late July and lasts for over a month, reaching its peak in mid August, when it's possible to see more than one meteor per minute.
The shower can be seen all across the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, but it originally emanates from the constellation of Perseus and that's where it gets its name.
Although there are plenty of other spectacular meteor showers throughout the year, the Perseids are the most popular for Americans (and Europeans) because they occur during the mild summer months, thus providing the best viewing conditions.
What Are Meteors?
Meteors are the result of small dust-sized particles called meteoroids, which hurtle through space at speeds of up to 72 kilometers per second. These particles create brilliant streaks across the sky as they are heated to incandescence upon entering the Earth's atmosphere.
The Perseids meteor shower is associated with the tail of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which leaves 'space debris' in the Earth's path at the same time each year. It's important not to confuse meteors with meteorites; the latter is a fragment of rock or metal that has struck the surface of the planet, often leaving a crater.
How to See the Perseids
The Perseids meteor shower is primarily observed in the Northern Hemisphere. The display will be visible all night, but for the best chance of seeing shooting stars, head outside after midnight when their radiant is at its highest point in the sky. Perseus can be found in the northeastern sky, just below and to the right of the famously bright 'W' shaped constellation of Cassiopeia.
Meteor showers are best viewed with the naked eye from a dark location with an open view of the sky, away from artificial light. Moonlight can be a hindrance, but occasionally conditions are perfect for spotting the Perseids, such as during a new moon when the sky is completely dark.
The display will always peak in August, but each year is slightly different, so you should check online for up-to-date information about the exact dates. As long as the sky remains cloudless and unobstructed, sky-watchers in the northern hemisphere can see up to 100 shooting stars per hour at its peak. However, don't completely dismiss an early evening sighting, you may see a type of fireball called an "Earthgrazer." They are rare, but Earthgrazers are long, colorful meteors that travel slowly across the horizon at nightfall when Perseus first peeks over the horizon.
Happy Stargazing
It's clear to see why the Perseids meteor shower is so beloved by sky-watchers all over the world. The month-long chance to see shooting stars during the warmest time of the year in the northern hemisphere makes this annual cosmic event hugely popular. You don't need special equipment or astronomical knowledge; the most accessible meteor shower of the year just requires a sense of wonder.
The perfect times and places to watch the Perseids.