The Perseid meteor shower is renowned as one of the year’s most spectacular celestial events. With its captivating meteors and brilliant fireballs, it offers an impressive display for skywatchers globally. Unlike the Leonids or Geminids, which peak in the colder months, the Perseids occur during the warm summer, making it a favorite among viewers. In 2024, the peak of this meteor shower is expected to take place this weekend.
Skywatchers who find the right moment may observe as many as 100 meteors per hour, leaving luminous trails behind them. This year, lucky viewers could also witness the aurora borealis, or northern lights, coinciding with the meteor peak.
The Perseid meteor shower is active from July 14 to September 1, but peak activity is anticipated on Sunday and Monday, according to the American Meteor Society. The visibility of the meteors can be affected by lunar conditions; for example, a bright moon could make the relatively faint Perseids difficult to see. Fortunately, this year’s half-illuminated moon is expected to set around 11:30 p.m. local time, allowing for favorable viewing conditions as meteor activity increases until dawn.
The best viewing locations for the Perseids are in the Northern Hemisphere. After the moon sets, observers will mainly need to contend with local light pollution and potential cloud cover.
The Perseids originate from the constellation Perseus and consist of particles from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Each year, Earth’s passage through the comet’s debris trail sparks the shower as these particles collide with the atmosphere at high speeds, creating fiery streaks in the sky. Discovered by Giovanni Schiaparelli in 1865, Swift-Tuttle is a massive comet that takes 133 years to complete its orbit around the sun.
While the Geminids meteor shower is known for its strength and consistency, the Perseids typically display between 50 and 100 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. The shower is also notable for its fireballs, which are bright explosions of light that can last longer than typical meteors.