By: Adrianne Marie (University of Miami)
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So grab your blankets and s’mores and snuggle in (outside of course) for a show you’ll never forget. The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks August 12-13 this year (approx. from 10p-5a) and should produce at least 80 meteors per hour!
But what the hell is a Perseid…?
That’s where NASA comes in: “The Perseids have been observed for at least 2,000 years and are associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun once every 133 years. Each year in August, the Earth passes through a cloud of the comet’s debris. These bits of ice and dust — most over 1,000 years old — burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere to create one of the best meteor showers of the year. The Perseids can be seen all over the sky, but the best viewing opportunities will be across the northern hemisphere. Those with sharp eyes will see that the meteors radiate from the direction of the constellation Perseus.”
From 10 pm until dawn, meteors will flit across the starry sky in a display that’s even more exciting and memorable than you could imagine. Let’s cross our fingers for a clear night….
Happy meteor-gazing socialites!
