Don’t miss ‘Prime Time’ for the Perseid meteor shower

Astronomer Fred Bruenjes recorded a series of numerous 30-second exposures spanning approximately six hours on the night of August 11 and early in the morning of August 12, 2004 using a wide-angle lens. By combining these images that captured meteor lightning, he produced this dramatic view of the Perseids in summer. There are 51 Perseid meteors in the composite image, including one seen almost from the front. Credit: Fred Bruenjes

The most famous meteor shower of the year should be a good time this year on the peak night of August 11, with no bright moon to interfere.

August brings the most famous meteor shower of the year, the Perseids. This annual meteor shower occurs every year as Earth passes through the debris trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. Most of these meteors are pea-sized dust grains, and they create fabulous “shooting stars” when they burn in Earth’s atmosphere.

We experience the Perseid meteor shower every year as Earth passes through the flow of debris left in the orbit of Comet Swift-Tuttle. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

The Perseids have been observed for at least 2,000 years and are associated with comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun once every 133 years. Each August, Earth passes through a cloud of comet orbital debris. This debris field – created for the most part hundreds of years ago – consists of chunks of ice and dust from the comet that burn in Earth’s atmosphere to create one of the first meteor showers in the world. ‘year.

Meteor showers seem to radiate from a point called the radiant, although they can crisscross the sky anywhere above you. For the Perseids, this point is in the constellation Perseus. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

Although the Perseids can be seen from mid-July to the end of August, the most likely time to see them is a few days on either side of the summit. This year, the peak falls on the night of August 11 and before dawn on August 12. (Think of this as “prime time” for the Perseids.) Under a very dark sky, you might see almost one per minute near the peak activity hour.

This year’s peak night for the Perseids benefits from a moon setting early in the evening, so it will not interfere with weaker meteors. But before it goes down that evening, be sure to check out this stunning crescent moon in the west after sunset with the shining planet Venus.

On the night of Perseid Peak, see a beautiful scene with the crescent moon near Venus in the west after sunset. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

To enjoy the Perseid meteor shower, simply find a safe, dark place away from the bright city lights. Lie down or bow with your feet to the north and look up. Meteors appear to be beaming around the constellation Perseus, but they can cross the sky anywhere above you.

Nasa also has a way for you to catch Perseids online. NASA’s Meteor Watch team is planning a live broadcast the night of August 11. Visit this link for more details.