This August, one of the most renowned meteor showers, the Perseid Meteor Shower, will return. However, this time will be more spectacular than the others, as the average number of meteors is expected to double.
The shower is particularly popular because the comets are some of the fastest and brightest, thereby often leaving visible tails.
1. 200 meteors are expected to fall every hour
According to Nature World News, an estimate of 200 meteors are expected to fall per hour. Because this number is twice the average, it is called an "outburst."
2. The Perseid Meteor Shower only hails from the Comet Swift-Tuttle
Which, in turn, orbits the sun only once every 130 years. According to Bill Cooke, a meteor expert from NASA, this year's Perseid Meteor Shower is going to be strong as the Earth is running into a lot of debris left by the comet. The amount of debris is greater than before because of the effect from Jupiter's gravity.
3. The Perseid Meteor Shower is best seen from the Northern Hemisphere
For the United Kingdom, the ideal place to view the shower is in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, or Galloway Forest Park in Galloway, Southwest Scotland. For those in the United States, Michigan's Dark Sky Preservations are best. That is, the Thompson Harbor State Park, Negwegon State Park, and the Rockport State Recreation Area.
4. The Perseid Meteor Shower is an annual event
According to AL.Com, the shower usually peaks during the month of August. However, the best time to watch out for them this year is between August 11 and August 12, any time from 1am to 5am.
However, it is best to give the eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness.
5. The meteors are coming from the same place
That is, the constellation Perseus, which is also referred to as "The Radiant." It is found in the northeastern part of the sky, though the comets appear to be coming from everywhere to the naked eye.
