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The astonishing Perseid meteor shower will culminate tonight (August 11) in what may well be the brightest “shooting star” exhibit of the year.
The Perseids are often one of the heaviest meteor showers, and this year the display will be particularly easy to observe, as the moon is only a few days past its new phase, keeping tonight’s sky quite dark. .
Sky watchers started catching the first Perseids in late July, and the meteor shower will continue until August 18, but the peak of that meteor shower is well worth capturing. Forecasts from Space.com and Sky & Telescope suggest that sky watchers who are in a sufficiently dark location could catch dozens of shooting stars every hour – maybe one per minute – during the shower peak, which continues until Thursday morning.
Webcasts: Perseid meteor shower 2021: how to watch it live tonight
Read more: Perseid meteor shower 2021: when, where and how to see it
For a meteor-watching excursion, you’ll want to consider bringing a lounge chair, sleeping bag, or both to avoid straining your neck as you gaze at the sky. Pack diapers, snacks, and maybe a hot drink, as it can get cold at night, and be sure to give your eyes plenty of time to adjust to the dark. Skywatching columnist Joe Rao has more tips for a successful Perseid quest in his Complete Shower Guide this year.
If you can’t get away from the city lights or the bad weather takes away the spectacle, don’t worry – the Perseids are arriving at a livestream near you as well.
Editor’s Note: If you take an amazing Perseid Meteor Shower 2020 photo or video and want to share it with Space.com for a possible story or gallery, send images and comments to [email protected].
Email Meghan Bartels at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
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