July 2016

August’s Perseid Meteor Shower is always spectacular, but this year we’re in for a real treat. NASA predicts a Perseid Outburst, which can feature 200 shooting stars per hour, during the peak of the stargazing event! You can catch a glimpse of this streaming space dust between July 17^th and August 24^th. The peak of activity, though, is expected to be visible August 11^th and 12^th.

What’s a Perseid, anyway?

With all the talk of Perseids this time of year, you might get the impression that it’s just another word for shooting star.  That descriptor, it turns out, is rather specific. The prolific meteors that make up this shower are the result of the Earth passing through the tail of the Comet Swift-Tuttle. The streams of light appear to originate at a common point (called the radiant) in the Perseus constellation. As “sons of Perseus,” the shooting stars are called Perseids.

How to See the Stars

Light pollution makes for diluted stargazing, so impromptu astronomers will get the best view in rural areas. Wherever you go to stare at the sky, face Northeast and get comfortable; your eyes need almost an hour to adjust. Ditch the binoculars and smartphones — even the apps that map the sky. The light from your device will mess up your view.