See the Peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower Tonight
The Perseids are upon us! Known as the most anticipated meteor shower of summer – at over 100 meteors per hour – this night is the night to catch the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower.
According to AccuWeather astronomical blogger Dave Samukhel, the Perseids are running from July 13th and will run until August 26th, but the night of August 12-13 will be the most amazing.
“The Perseids are not only numerous but also beautiful. Most meteors leave a sparkling trail as they pass, ”Samukhel said. “They are colorful and a lot of them are bright.”
The only major bummer this year is the wrong time for a near-full moon, which will make it harder to see some of the fainter meteors. And depending on where you are, clouds can also get in your way, says AccuWeather :
The clear-cut conditions will create an unobstructed view of some of the best stargazing spots across the country on Monday night at Perseid Peak. This includes most of the western United States, the southern plains, and the Ohio Valley strip.
Spotted clouds can interfere with view for many people in the eastern United States, but there should be enough breaks in the clouds to see some of the Perseids on Monday night.
Whenever possible – especially if you are in the western half of the United States – consider getting to a location with the clearest night skies for a particularly dazzling sight. The most active shower will be from midnight to dawn. Although the Perseids occur in the northeastern sky, they should be visible from all sides of the sky.
For the best view, lie down in a reclining position, allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness, and look away from the moon towards the darkest part of the sky.
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