The Milky Way and Perseid meteor shower photographed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Alps in 2018.
Getty
Today marks the start of the Perseid meteor shower, the most popular meteor shower of the year, but there’s still a few weeks until the peak night, so there’s still time to plan your trip into the dark skies.
The Perseid meteor shower will last from July 14 to September 1, 2024, with its peak occurring on the night of Monday, August 11 to Tuesday, August 12. You can see the Perseid meteor shower on any clear night from now through September, but the night of its peak will be the best time to see it.
When is the peak night of the Perseid meteor shower?
by American Meteor SocietyThe peak will be around 04:00 UTC, or 12:00 a.m. EDT on August 12. In reality, the peak is broad enough that the same number of “shooting stars” will be visible per hour for 8 hours either side of the peak. You can watch meteors on August 11 after it gets dark.
It’s ideal timing: The moon, a 43% bright crescent, will set over the southwestern horizon just before midnight in the Northern Hemisphere ( Moonrise and moonset (You can use a calculator to find the exact time for your location.) That way, you’ll be safe from moonlight for the rest of the night — perfect for observing the meteor shower.
If you haven’t yet made plans to watch the 2024 Perseid meteor shower, we recommend taking Monday and Tuesday off, planning a dark-sky camping trip, and enjoying two hours of uninterrupted gazing up at the sky between 11 a.m. and dawn ( Sunrise and sunset calculator Depending on where you are.
How many shooting stars are there?
It’s often said that the Perseids can produce as many as 150 meteors per hour at their peak. Some say 100. Both figures are on the high side. These “zenith hour rates” refer to what an observer would see if they could see the entire sky at the same time. In reality, you can expect to see around 50 “shooting stars” per hour, which is an amazing result.
The Perseids appear to stream away from near the boundary of the shower’s “radiant point.” … [+]
Sky and telescope illustration (used with permission)
What causes the Perseid meteor shower?
Meteors (“falling stars”) are small pieces of rock and dust that burn up when they impact the Earth’s atmosphere. The Perseid meteor shower is caused by dust and debris left in the Solar System by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The comet, which returns every 133 years, was discovered in 1862 by Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Actual “shooting stars” hit Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of about 37 miles per second and appear in the constellation Perseus in the northeastern night sky when viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, although they can appear anywhere in the night sky.
How to see the Perseid meteor shower
Here are some tips for viewing the meteor shower. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):
- Get as far away from city light pollution as possible (preferably International Dark Sky Park).
- Find a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the night sky.
- Dress warmly, it can get very cold.
- Observe patiently for at least 30 minutes, preferably in a recliner or on a pad on the ground.
- Do not use a telescope or binoculars, as their use will greatly reduce your chances of seeing a “shooting star.”
- Do not look at cell phones or other white lights as this will impair your night vision. Use only red lights.
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