When the Perseid meteor shower will take place and where best to watch

The middle of July and the end of August will be marked by a bright astronomical phenomenon called the Perseid shower. The meteor shower will continue for almost a month and will reach its peak on August 12-13. According to scientists, the number of meteors will grow to 50-75 per hour during this period.

The stream can be seen from anywhere on Earth, but the brightest picture will be in the Northern Hemisphere. Where the name comes from and when it is better to observe a unique phenomenon, New Scientist publication shared.

When it will be possible to see the Perseids stream

This year, the Perseids meteor stream began on July 17 and will last until August 24. The highest probability of seeing the phenomenon will be on August 12 and 13. According to scientists, you can see about one meteor every hour in July, but in August their number will increase many times.

What is a meteor shower

A meteor shower is also called a star shower. It is a natural phenomenon when numerous meteors are observed in the night sky as if flying along a certain trajectory. Meteors fly in a stream of different, almost parallel paths. However, from Earth it seems that they fly out of one area of the sky. Astronomers explain that meteor flight is usually caused by comet debris. Tiny grains of sand, dust fragments or rocks enter Earth's atmosphere at incredibly high speeds. Their interaction with the air causes them to burn up. This is how the flashes are explained.

The Perseid stream is caused by the Swift-Tuttle comet. It was last observed in 1992 and the next time it will not be seen until 2125.

Where the name comes from

The streams are named after the constellations where the imaginary points from which they fly out are located. The Perseids, for example, are from the constellation Perseus, the Leonids are from the constellation Leo, etc.

The constellation Perseus is located in the center of the conventional triangle formed by the constellation Cassiopeia, the Pleiades star cluster and the Canopus star. The latter is located in the constellation of Kiel.

How to see the Perseid stream

Meteors will appear and disappear within seconds, with the movement in the sky being very fast. Astronomers say that from time to time you can even spot fireballs in the night sky.

The highest chance of watching a meteor shower is in mid-August. Choose a cloudless night, go outside after midnight and look at the sky.

Earlier OBOZREVATEL shared what is the Lirida meteor shower and when you can see it.

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