The best meteor shower of the year reaches its peak Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. On a typical year, you might see dozens of meteors every hour.
This year, though, viewing will be more challenging. A nearly full moon will wash out many of the fainter streaks, and clouds could block the view in parts of Southeast Texas.
Still, if you’re awake during the early hours, it’s worth glancing toward the eastern sky; prime viewing will be between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m.
How the Perseids got their name:
The Perseid meteor shower is named after the constellation Perseus. If you trace the streaks of light back across the sky, they appear to originate from this constellation, a point astronomers call the “radiant.”
Records of the Perseids date back to 36 A.D. in China. In 1836, Belgian-French astronomer Adolphe Quetelet recognized their yearly appearance and gave the shower its name. Nearly three decades later, in 1865, Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli linked the meteors to the comet Swift-Tuttle, identifying it as their source.
What meteors look like:
Every August, as Earth orbits the Sun, it plows through a trail of rock and dust left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle.
It is inaccurate to call them shooting stars because they are pieces of rubble similar in shape, size, color, and texture to Grape Nuts cereal. This cereal is still on store shelves.
What you are actually seeing in the sky:
Perseid meteors race through space at 37 miles per second, that’s about 133,000 miles per hour!
Around 60 miles above Earth, each tiny particle compresses the air in front of it, much like water piling up ahead of a speeding boat. This creates a white-hot shock wave, which is the flash of light we see streaking across the sky.
You’re not actually seeing the particle itself burn up, and none of them ever reach the ground. I’ve put together a video explaining why the Perseids and other meteor showers return every year. Just note it was made two years ago under different sky conditions.
When and how to watch:
The best time to catch the Perseids is in the hours just before dawn on Wednesday, when the radiant point, the spot in the sky the meteors appear to originate, is at its highest. When it’s lower on the horizon, more meteors are hidden from view.
Light is the biggest challenge for Houston-area stargazers. City light pollution can wash out the details of the night sky, and this year, an 80% illuminated waning gibbous bright moon will add to the glare. If possible, head to a darker location, keep the moon behind you, and you’ll boost your chances of spotting the brightest meteors. Remember, they can appear anywhere in the sky, not just near the radiant point.
The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with warm, humid conditions. No special equipment is needed; just find a spot with an open view, lie back on a blanket or in a lawn chair, and look toward the darkest part of the sky. Give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness for the best view.
If you take any great pictures, please post on Click2Pins or share with me on Facebook or Instagram at: @kprc2anthony
