The Perseids Meteor Shower
Author: Jeff Ross
The Perseids Meteor Shower is now underway. The Perseids peak this year on August 13 but are a long duration shower, with the first meteors visible beginning in mid-July and lasting until early September. The Aurora-Cam that I mentioned last week has already captured a few Perseids and likely will get more every night.
Unfortunately for prime viewing this year, the Moon is full also on August 13. Full Moon light will wipe out the fainter meteors but because the Perseids are "earthgrazer" meteors they come in low, fast and bright, sometimes leaving long trails behind.
The Perseids are caused by the Earth crossing the orbital path of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle and sweeping up dust and tiny particles that are remnants of its tail. Swift-Tuttle made its last pass in 1992. None of us are likely to see it again. Its next pass will be in 2126! Orbital calculations show that will be a very close pass but there appears to be no danger of impact.
To get the best view, take a deck chair and get comfortable under an open sky after midnight and just start looking up. Meteors will show up in every part of the sky and can be moving in all directions. If you trace their path back they will mostly all appear to be from the same general area in the constellation Perseus, high in the northeastern sky in the early morning hours.
I know of few more enjoyable ways to enjoy a warm summer evening than to be out under the stars with the Milky Way arching overhead watching for Perseid meteors!
With clear skies, of course.
