Sky watchers will soon be able to see the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower, a perennial favorite. The shower has been visible since July 17 and will stick around until August 24th, peaking overnight on August 12/13. These meteors are remnants of the Comet Swift Tuttle and the shower’s radiant will appear to be coming from the Double Cluster within the constellation Perseus.
Image by Till Credner (www.allthesky.com), via Wikimedia Commons
Ordinarily, viewing the Perseids in pre-dawn hours in a dark sky can turn up about 60 sightings per hour. This year the shower is competing with light from the waning gibbous moon, which will wash out all but the brightest meteors.
If you aren’t able to head outside in order to view the peak of the shower, Slooh will be broadcasting the event live on August 12 at 7:00 pm EDT. The event will feature commentary from astronomer Bob Berman and others, and you can join the conversation about the broadcast by using #PerseidsSloohsation on social media. Tune in here:
Want to make sure you catch all the great sky watching opportunities this year? Check out the IFLS 2014 Sky Watching Guide.
