- The annual Perseids meteor shower is expected to continue until September.
- Meteor showers occur when space debris heats up as it enters the atmosphere, and the Perseids are particularly bright.
- To get the best view of the Perseids, look at the night sky away from clouds and other light sources.
The Perseids once again dazzle the sky with an explosion of light and colour.
The annual meteor shower, which has been active since July, peaked before dawn on Monday. It was one of the brightest and most visible showers of the year, producing “bright blue meteors – and lots of them,” said University of Warwick astronomer Don Polacco.
More than 50 meteors per hour are expected, according to the American Meteor Society. The rain lasted until September 1.
Here’s what you know about the Perseids and other meteor showers.
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What is a meteor shower?
Several meteor showers happen every year and you don’t need any special equipment to see them.
Most meteor showers come from comet debris. The source of the Perseids is comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
When rocks from outer space enter the Earth’s atmosphere, air resistance makes them very hot. It lit up the air around them and soon they left a trail of fire behind them – the end of the “shooting star”.
Lines are seen in the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower over the Guadarrama Mountains, early August 12, 2016, near Madrid. (AP Photo/Francisco Cecco)
Bright pockets of air around rapidly moving space rocks ranging in size from dust particles to boulders can be seen in the night sky.
The particles are larger than other showers, making the Perseids “look like bright fireballs – easier to see than other showers,” said NASA’s Bill Cook.
How to see a meteor shower
Meteor showers are usually visible between midnight and dawn.
Shooting stars are easy to see under dark skies, away from city lights. Meteor showers appear brighter on cloudless nights when the moon is at its smallest.
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The northern hemisphere will have the best views of the Perseids. This year’s peak coincides with about a 44% full moon.
When will the next meteor shower be?
The Meteor Society maintains a list of major upcoming meteor shows, including prime viewing days and moonlight positions.
The next big meteor shower is the Orionids, in mid-October.
2024-08-09 17:20:50
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