Peak times, how to watch 2024 Perseid meteor shower in Conn.
With a peak meteor count of up to 100 meteors-per-hour, NASA says the Perseid meteor shower is considered to be the "best meteor shower of the year."
This year's Perseids begin on July 14 and will last until Aug. 24. The peak will occur on the night of Aug. 12 until dawn on Aug. 13, according to Space.com. The radiant of the meteor shower — the constellation where the Perseids will appear to come from — is the Perseus constellation.
In Connecticut, the Accuweather 30-day forecast predicts that the night of Aug. 12, when the peak of the Perseids is scheduled to occur, will be cloudy with a 25 percent chance of precipitation. According to the National Weather Service, cloud cover can impact the number of meteors seen during a shower.
The meteor shower will be best seen in the northern hemisphere during the pre-dawn hours. The moon on the evening of Aug. 12 will be entering its first quarter phase, meaning that it will only be approximately 50 percent illuminated — rising around noon and settling around midnight. Meteor showers, including the Perseids, are best seen with as little light as possible — this includes artificial light as well as light from the moon.
Those looking to view the Perseids should wait at least 30 minutes for their eyes to acclimate to the darkness of their surroundings. Additionally, laying on one's back allows the opportunity to take in a wider view of meteor showers.
According to NASA, the Perseids occur when the Earth passes through the trail of debris left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The debris collides with the Earth's atmosphere, creating bright streaks of light that dart across the night sky.
Following the Perseid meteor shower, the Orionids will be the next meteor shower to pass Earth, according to the American Meteor Society. The Orionids, which has had strong showings in the past, will be more difficult to see this year as a late-rising waning gibbous moon will be present during its peak on Oct. 20 and 21 — creating a significant amount of light that will make seeing meteors difficult.
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