The Perseid meteor shower peaks late Sunday night, and since it will be paired with a dark sky due to an early moonset, stargazers could be in for a spectacular show.
The best time to view the Perseid meteor shower is from midnight to dawn, NASA says on its website, adding that the greatest number of meteors are seen just before dawn, when the radiant is high in the sky. But that doesn’t mean skywatchers should stare at the radiant, as the meteors can be seen anywhere in the sky.
The annual meteor shower has been active since July, and is considered one of the brightest and easiest to see meteor showers of the year because it produces “bright blue meteors, and lots of them,” according to astronomer Don Polacco of the University of Warwick.
These showers occur every year when Earth passes through the debris of Comet Swift-Tuttle.
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This view shows the Perseid meteor shower in the night sky over China on August 13, 2021. (Lian Chen/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Although most Perseid nights only see a few meteors per hour, the peak of the shower usually brings more. While the number varies from year to year, NASA says the number of meteors falling can be as low as a few dozen per hour and as high as 200 per hour.
The 53% waxing moon will set shortly after 10:30 p.m., but those in an area free of light pollution with clear skies may still be able to see a fair number of meteors throughout the night.
To get the most out of meteor showers, NASA suggests stargazers get out of the city and look for the darkest place they can find.
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On July 26, 2023, NASA’s All Sky Fireball Network spotted the first Perseid meteor shower of the year. (NASA/All Sky Fireball Network)
NASA also recommends checking the weather forecast before heading out to get an idea of where fog and clouds might affect visibility.
However, under the right conditions, novice astronomers may be able to spot 50 meteors per hour, according to the American Meteor Society, and the best part is that meteors can be spotted without any special equipment.
When space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, air resistance makes them extremely hot, causing the air around the rocks to glow and leave behind a fiery tail. The fiery tail gives space rocks a meteor-like appearance, and they can sometimes be visible in the night sky with the naked eye.
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The Perseid meteor shower was seen over China on August 17, 2020. (Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
But the Perseids are made up of larger particles than many other showers, said NASA’s Bill Cooke, which makes the falling stars appear as bright fireballs, which are easier to spot than others.
The Perseid meteor shower is often considered the best of the year due to its high meteor rates and pleasant weather conditions.
It is also the only meteor shower to cause a Space Shuttle launch delay: STS-51 in 1993.
Viewers can see the meteor shower best in the Northern Hemisphere.
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The Perseids appear to originate from a point in the constellation Perseus. The meteor shower gets its name from the location of its starting point.
“All you need to see this show is a clear sky, darkness and a little patience,” NASA said. “You don’t need to look in any particular direction; meteors can be seen generally across the sky.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
