Although the peak of the Perseids meteor shower – one of the brightest meteor showers of the year – could be next week, now could be the best time to see the astronomical event, according to The Weather. Network.
Considered one of the strongest and brightest meteor showers, the Perseids meteor shower occurs from mid-July to late August when Earth passes through an icy trail left behind by a comet, meteorologists say. Weather Network’s Scott Sutherland wrote on Friday.
While the meteor shower is expected to peak on the night of August 12 and 13, Sutherland said the light from the near-full moon on August 11 “will still wash away all but the brightest meteors.”
“Instead, go out this weekend to see the meteor shower as visibility will get worse over the course of next week due to the moon,” he said.
The meteor shower gets its name from the constellation Perseus from which the meteors appear to be falling.
The Canadian Space Agency says as many as 50 to 80 meteors can cross the night sky every hour during the Perseids’ peak.
But for now, Sutherland says the meteor shower can produce between 20 and 30 meteors an hour.
Along with the full moon, artificial light from street lights, signs and vehicles can also make it difficult to see a meteor shower, he said.
The moon will set later each night, meaning viewers will have to stay up later and later to track the moonless spots in the evening as each day goes by, Sutherland said.
He advises stargazers to stay away from nearby cities to find the best viewing spots away from any light pollution.
How well you can see the meteor shower will also depend on whether the sky is clear or not. It also helps to avoid looking at your phone.
“Once you’ve verified that you have clear skies and limited light pollution exposure, it’s time to be patient,” says Sutherland.
“Note that this – more than anything else – is possibly the most frustrating thing about meteor shower viewing.”
