Meteor shower peaks early Friday

WAUKESHA, Wis. — One of the year’s best meteor showers will peak during the early morning hours of August 13 under a moonless sky.

“The waxing crescent Moon sets before twilight ends, so the best viewing of the Perseid meteor shower will be after midnight,” said Senior Editor Richard Talcott.

Astronomy magazine editors are available to explain how to observe this meteor shower. To request an interview, please contact Matt Quandt at 262.798.6484 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Observers can expect to see more than 60, and perhaps 100, meteors per hour. About half as many will be visible the night before and after.

If you trace the Perseid meteor trails backward, they meet within the constellation Perseus the Hero; this is how the shower got its name. Perseus lies low in the sky during evening hours on the 12th, but it rides high predawn on the 13th, making the best time to view the Perseids in the 2 or 3 hours before dawn.

The particles we see as meteors originated from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. As Earth runs into the particle stream in its orbit every year, we view the bright, fast meteors as they hit Earth’s atmosphere at 37 miles per second. 


As always, you’ll see more meteors if you observe from a dark location. It’s also best to view meteor showers without optical aid. Viewers should use just their eyes, so as not to restrict the field of view.

Meteor showers offer everyone, not just avid amateur astronomers, a chance to witness a cosmic spectacle. Meteor showers are great social and family events. Organize a group of skygazers and head out of town to a dark location. Bring lawn chairs to ease neck strain, and don’t forget the bug spray and a blanket.