Perseid 2021 meteor shower peaks Wednesday: how to watch fireballs

One of the best meteor showers of the year, the Perseid Meteor Shower, brings “shooting stars” to the night sky for much of this month. According to NASA, this is truly “considered the best meteor shower of the year,” and it’s a breathtaking celestial fireworks display that astronomers won’t want to miss. Here’s when you can see the show for yourself or how to follow through livestream.

The Perseids are active until August 24, but meteor activity will peak on the night of August 11 and the morning of August 12. NASA also calls the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13 another great sky-viewing opportunity.

“Meteors are best seen from the northern hemisphere, and under ideal cloudless conditions, observers could see up to 50 per hour,” the Royal Astronomical Society said in a statement on the peak, which will take place in the night of August 12. for UK and Europe. The moon will remain inconspicuous, providing observers with a beautiful dark sky to work with.

The Perseids are popular for their reliability and potential for spectacular fireballs. The actual number of shooting stars you might see will vary depending on cloud cover, light pollution, and location. According to NASA, if you are in the cloudless United States, you could catch around 40 Perseids in the hour just before dawn on peak nights.

July 26, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center shared an image of a striated Perseid meteor spotted by camera at Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona.

Balls of fire can occur when larger chunks of cometary debris hit the atmosphere, creating long trails of light, the kind of like making you say “Whoa!” Ready to get excited? Check out these photos from last year’s shower:

Catch a shooting star

In its simplest form, watching a meteor shower is all about going out at night and looking up, but there are steps you can take to improve your chances of seeing a good show. You’re in luck if you’re an early riser. The hours before dawn is a prime viewing time, but NASA also says you can see meteors as early as 10 p.m. local time.

Some of the biggest obstacles to good meteor viewing are cloudy weather and light pollution. Aim for a clear night and try to get away from the city lights. A hammock, blanket, or chair that leans back will prevent you from twisting your neck. Give your eyes plenty of time to adjust to the dark.

You can spot meteors anywhere in the sky, although they get their name from the fact that they appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus. To find Perseus, Discover a stargazing app this will help you locate the constellation. Perseus isn’t the actual source of the shower, but it can be useful in tracking down the sometimes elusive streaks of light.

Watch a live broadcast

The Virtual Telescope Project is hosting a live viewing session of the Perseids on August 10 at 5:00 p.m. PT. “This year the sky conditions will be perfect, without interference from the moon,” VTP founder Gianluca Masi said in an announcement.

NASA will offer a live broadcast hosted by the Meteoroid Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Streams will begin at 8 p.m. PT on August 11 on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

You don’t have to wait until the peak in mid-August to enjoy the action. A dark spot on a clear day can provide an interesting viewing experience throughout the Perseid tour. Catch those shooting stars while you can.

Follow CNET’s 2021 space calendar to stay up to date with all the latest space news this year. You can even add it to your own Google Calendar.