NASA explains best way and time to watch Perseid meteor shower and 100 shooting stars an hour
NASA has explained how to catch the best meteor shower of the year, where up to 100 shooting stars could be seen lighting up our sky.
The Perseids - famous for dazzling us with bright, fast-moving meteors that often leave glowing trails - are set to peak around August 12 to 13.
They occur when Earth passes through the debris trail left by Comet Swift–Tuttle.
As tiny bits of dust and rock hit our atmosphere at high speeds of more than 130,000 mph, they burn up, creating streaks of light known as meteors or shooting stars.
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They're named after the constellation Perseus, where the meteors appear to originate, though they can be seen streaking across all parts of the sky.
This year, our view will be obstructed by moonlight, a waning gibbous Moon that's 84 percent full.
It's set to rise before midnight and stay high in the sky until dawn. Its brightness will wash out many of the fainter meteors, so viewing conditions aren’t ideal.
However, it's still worth a try, and NASA has explained how best to maximize your chances.
Best time to catch the Perseid meteor shower
Some bright meteors may be visible if you observe in the darkest hours before moonrise, or early in the night when the sky is darker.
According to NASA, the best time to view the Perseids is in the early morning hours before dawn, when the radiant - the point the meteors appear to come from - is highest in the northeastern sky. However, meteors can also start appearing as early as 10 pm local time, especially the brighter ones.
NASA's viewing tips
Want to catch the best view of a meteor shower? Of course you do! NASA has some great tips to guide you.
Firstly, it's time to get out of the city. Light pollution from buildings, streets, and cars makes it hard to see faint meteors.
The space agency recommends heading at least 20 to 30 miles away from cities or using natural barriers like mountains, forests, or lakes to block out light pollution. Then, give yourself up to half an hour for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark.
NASA says we should be looking northeast, but keep our view wide, as meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.
Finally, use the Bortle Scale - which helps stargazers to know how much light pollution is in the sky where they observe - to look for sky conditions rated Class 3 or 4 for a good view. The darker, the better.
Even with the Moon’s interference, the Perseids are still worth catching. Head out late at night or just before dawn, and you may still catch a glimpse of the magic.
Ellie Kemp