Perseid, the meteor shower you can actually see TONIGHT
Got plans for tonight? Well, hope you left a little room in your schedule for the awesome meteor shower that’s taking place in the wee hours of the morning! Perseid, which is peaking early tomorrow morning through Wednesday, is being called the one meteor shower you don’t want to miss by NASA, and if you’re taking astronomy advice from anyone, you should be taking it from them.
This year’s Perseid meteor shower is a must-see because of the new moon coming up on the 14th. As a result, the bright and fast meteors won’t be obscured by a bright moon, like they were last year. If the sky is clear, you’ll be seeing the bright trails of meteors perfectly!
So what causes this annual display? The Earth passing through debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle commet. Dust particles colliding with our atmosphere causes them to burn up, and we see the flashes of light in the Northern Hemisphere.
Here’s what you need to know to get a glimpse of these gorgeous meteors. The best time to see them is between midnight and just before dawn, so get ready to stay up late or get up early.
Urban light will cause problems, so finding a clear view with little light is your best bet. A dark patch of sky will also help you see them more clearly. You don’t need any fancy tools to see the meteors, but you might want a chair as you could be sitting for a while.
And put your cellphone away, because it wrecks your night vision!
Happy star-gazing, Gigglers!
(Image via NASA)
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