Perseids 2024: The best period to view the Perseid meteor shower is now. This annual spectacle lasts almost three weeks, from late July through late August, with the most impressive viewing taking place in mid-August.
Named after the Perseus constellation from which they appear to originate, the Perseid meteor shower is caused by Comet Swift-Tuttle. This comet, approximately 26 km in diameter, leaves a trail of debris during its 133-year orbit around the Sun.
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As the Earth intersects this debris stream, small rocks burn up in our atmosphere, creating the bright streaks in the sky known as “shooting stars.”
The shower reaches its peak when Earth passes through the densest part of the comet’s debris stream in mid-August. At its height, you might observe up to 40 meteors per hour, according to NASA.
Perseids 2024: The ideal time to look for “shooting stars”
When the sky is at its darkest, just before dawn, about three in the morning, is when you should see the meteor shower. According to University of Virginia astronomer Edward Murphy, who spoke with National Geographic, the biggest error people make when looking for “shooting stars” is that they don’t stay up late enough. “They go out as soon as it gets dark.” They’re a couple of hours early, which is the issue.
Relocating from a metropolitan area will also increase the likelihood of seeing Perseid meteor showers. NASA states that you will still see some meteors if you are unable to avoid city lights, but perhaps just one or two every hour as opposed to forty.
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Watchers of the Perseid meteor shower will benefit from a moonless sky.
Moonlight can obstruct the view of meteor showers, but 2021 is particularly favourable for observing the Perseids. The shower peaks just a few days after the new moon on August 8, when the dark side of the moon faces Earth and there is minimal moonlight in the sky.
