Perseids Peak This Week in One of the Brightest Meteor Showers of the Year

The peak of the Perseid meteor shower, a favorite among astronomy fans, will continue on Aug. 12, and favorable viewing conditions are in store from the mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley to the southern Plains, as well as the interior West. "It's one of the two best annual meteor showers, and the only one that happens during warm weather," Slooh Astronomer Bob Berman said. The Perseids is a favorite among stargazers due to these meteors being brighter than most showers, according to Slooh, a community observatory that has connected telescopes to the Internet for public use. The Perseids will peak when Earth passes the thickest part of the debris stream through Aug. 12. Slooh stated that in a clear, dark sky as many as 60 meteors can be seen in an hour. With a new moon on Aug. 14, skies will be dark all night, providing excellent viewing conditions. The Perseids are similar to most meteor showers in that they are simply dust-sized pieces of icy debris expelled from a comet, according to Slooh. Berman stated that the best time to view the Perseids would be after midnight on Wednesday night. He added that "people away from cities should see one a minute starting at midnight both nights; but city dwellers will only see the brightest ones, reducing the number to maybe one every 10 minutes. Also, an open area of sky is best. Don't just try to peek between trees or buildings." http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/viewing-conditions-perseid-met-1/51527038