The August Night Sky is Set to be Illuminated by the Dazzling Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid meteor shower is set to peak on the night of 12-13 August this year, promising an exciting spectacle for skywatchers. This meteor shower is most visible from the northern hemisphere, and under perfect conditions with clear skies, observers might be treated to an impressive display of up to 50 meteors per hour.

Meteors are the outcome of small particles entering the Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds, typically around 60 km per second. As these debris pieces encounter friction with the air, they heat up and are typically disintegrated in under a second at altitudes above 80 km. This superheated air surrounding the meteor momentarily glows, creating a streak of light visible from the ground, often referred to as a “shooting star.”

Meteor Shower Origins and Association with Comet 109/P Swift-Tuttle

Throughout the year, up to six random “sporadic” meteors are visible each hour. However, during a meteor shower, the Earth passes through a cloud of debris left behind by comets, resulting in a significantly higher number of meteors entering the atmosphere.

The Perseids meteor shower is specifically linked to Comet 109/P Swift-Tuttle, which last came close to the Earth in 1992. These shower meteors are named after the “radiant,” the point in the sky where they seem to originate, situated in the constellation of Perseus.

West Coast of North America and Eastern Pacific Ocean

The peak of this year’s Perseids meteor shower is expected from the evening of 12 August to the morning of 13 August, with particularly favorable viewing positions for observers on the west coast of North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The presence of a thin crescent moon rising just before twilight begins means that moonlight will not interfere, offering a real advantage for those observing from dark sky locations away from the lights of towns and cities.

Earthgrazers and Ideal Viewing Time

During the evening, the “radiant” of the meteor shower is positioned lower in the sky, resulting in fewer meteors being visible. Among those that do appear, some are known as “earthgrazers,” as the incoming debris particles barely touch the top of the Earth’s atmosphere, leaving behind long and bright trails.

As the night progresses, the number of meteors increases as the radiant rises higher in the sky. The best viewing time is expected to be before 03:00 BST, as the sky will start to brighten with the approach of dawn.

Unlike numerous astronomical events, meteor showers are easily observable, and there is no need for special equipment. The best way to observe a meteor shower is with the naked eye. In case clouds obstruct the view on the peak night, the shower is likely to continue on subsequent nights, although the activity may be reduced. Additionally, there is a possibility of later peaks as the Earth intersects with filaments of debris at later times.

Read the original article on Phys.

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