The highly anticipated Perseid meteor shower is set to reach its peak tonight, August 12, extending into the early hours of August 13. Stargazers across the Northern Hemisphere are preparing for this annual celestial event, known for its brilliant fireballs and frequent shooting stars.
This year, viewing conditions present a challenge as a bright, waning gibbous moon is expected to wash out many of the fainter meteors. Despite this, experts suggest that brighter meteors and fireballs, for which the Perseids are famous, will remain visible. Observers may see a reduced rate of 10 to 20 meteors per hour, a decrease from the usual 50 to 100 on a typical year under dark skies.
The shower is a result of Earth passing through the debris trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. The best time to view the spectacle is between midnight and dawn, with peak activity anticipated between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. local time, when the constellation Perseus, the shower’s radiant point, is highest in the sky. To enhance the experience, viewers are advised to find a location away from city lights, allow their eyes to adjust to the darkness, and avoid using binoculars or telescopes, which can limit the field of view. Additionally, a rare conjunction of Jupiter and Venus will be visible in the eastern sky before sunrise, offering an extra treat for early risers.
