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The most impressive meteor shower of the summer peaks this week. Now we just have to find a clear night sky.
The Perseid meteor shower will peak on the evening of August 11 and the early morning hours of August 12. The Perseids will still continue to rain on our skies for a few days after the peak, but with fewer meteors per hour.
Mike Murray, astronomer at the Delta College Planetarium, says the Perseids are known to shoot 100 meteors into our skies in an hour during rush hour. Murray also states that the Perseids are known for their fireballs, which are bright, shiny tails, and are known for their yellow vapor trails.
While we can see meteors before midnight, the greatest number of meteors occur after midnight. These latter meteors are also more visible because they are higher in the sky.
In recent years, it seems the moon was always in the wrong phase, casting light across the sky. This year the good news is that the moon will be a crescent moon and set before midnight. We will have no moonlight competition in the sky when the meteors peak.
Can we now find clear skies? Peak night takes place in a pattern that can cause nighttime thunderstorms. The good news is that nighttime thunderstorms usually have the smallest cloud shield surrounding a storm. Unless you are hit by a thunderstorm, you should be able to see the stars at night and the Perseids.
Thursday night could have scattered cloud again, but Friday night looks clear.
Check the weather and if clear skies are forecast you may want to stay up after midnight Wednesday night, Thursday night or Friday night. If you want to see rush hour, you will have to hope for a clear sky on Wednesday evening.
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