The biggest and best meteor shower of 2024 is here, but NASA officials have warned Americans they’ll have to get out of town to properly see it.
The Perseid meteor shower, which will peak at midnight on Sunday and continue into Monday morning, is expected to produce between 50 and 75 shooting stars per hour.
But the US space agency has warned that if you live in an urban area, light pollution could seriously obscure the cosmic spectacle.
Skygazers should head outside between noon and 5:30 a.m. to see the meteors, which will appear in the northeastern sky.
This peak period occurs when there is almost no moon and the sky is especially dark, providing the perfect backdrop for dozens of shooting stars.
The Perseid meteor shower will peak this weekend between Sunday, August 11 and Monday, August 12.
“Try to get to the darkest spot you can. The darker the spot, the more meteors you’ll see streaking across the sky,” NASA wrote in a press release.
The Perseid meteor shower began on July 14 and is expected to last until September 1, but the best time to see it will be this weekend.
The event occurs every year when Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle during its travels through the inner solar system.
As it streaks across the sky at a maximum speed of 42 kilometers per second, the comet leaves behind a trail of dust and debris.
Earth orbit intersects the orbit of Swift-Tuttle, causing dust and debris from the comet to burn up in our atmosphere and create the Perseid meteor shower.
NASA has dubbed it the “fireball champion” of annual meteor showers for its record-breaking number of super-bright meteors.
It’s a sight you won’t want to miss. Fortunately, NASA has expert advice for those hoping to catch the Perseids this weekend.
The first and most important thing is to find a location outside the city with very little light pollution and an unobstructed view of the sky.
To locate the meteor shower, viewers should look for the constellation Perseus, the 24th largest constellation in the sky.
The constellation is located in the northern region of the night sky.
Try searching for a International Dark Sky Park near you or consult a light pollution map to find the best place.
Check the local weather forecast before you travel to make sure clouds or rain won’t obstruct your view, and be sure to bring warm clothing, insect repellent, and anything else you might need to stay comfortable.
Comets emit trails of dust and debris as they streak across the sky. Comet Swift Tuttle’s trail of debris is what causes the Perseid meteor shower.
Shooting stars from the Perseid meteor shower.
Once you arrive at your dark sky location, you’ll need to know when and where to look at the stars.
Meteors will be brightest when the night sky is darkest, i.e. during the hours before dawn, after moonset and before sunrise.
No matter where you are in North America, the moon will set around midnight.
To see the Perseids, you can look anywhere in the night sky. They will appear to come from the northeast, where the constellation Perseus (for which they are named) will rise after dark.
While watching the show, try not to look at your phone or any other source of white light. Doing so will affect your night vision and make it difficult to see the meteors.
It is also not advisable to use a telescope or binoculars to look for the Perseids. These magnifying instruments make observing the shooting stars much more difficult.
If you miss the peak of the meteor shower, don’t worry. The Perseids will still be visible until the end of August.
But if you can get out to see them this weekend, you’re in for a spectacular show.