NASA says if you see one meteor shower this year, this week’s Perseid shower, peaking late tonight and early tomorrow, would be a great choice. The annual event features “fast and bright meteors that frequently leave trains," and this year, it coincides with a new moon for the first time since 2007, meaning "there will be no moonlight to upstage the show.”
Here are some details about the Perseids and how to get the best viewing experience.
What is the Perseid meteor shower?
According to Science@NASA, “the Perseid meteor shower is caused by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. Every 133 years the huge comet swings through the inner solar system and ejects a trail of dust and gravel along its orbit. When Earth passes through the debris, specks of comet-stuff hit the atmosphere at 140,000 mph and disintegrate in flashes of light.”
When will the light show be at its peak?
The Perseids will peak on the West Coast after midnight Wednesday into the early morning Thursday, with up to 100 meteors per hour expected near 1 a.m., according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab.
How and where can I see it?
Find any spot away from bright city lights and you should be able to get a good view simply by looking up. Give your eyes time to adjust to darkness and avoid looking at your phone or other lighted objects.
“Look towards the familiar constellations Cassiopeia and Perseus in the northeast,” JPL says. “They rise soon after sunset, but you'll want to wait until they are higher in the sky to see the most meteors.”
The Chico Enterprise-Record explains that the Bidwell Park observatory will be open Wednesday but will close at 10:45, before the shower’s peak. “However, [Bill] Koperwhats [of the Chico Community Observatory] noted that anyone can enter upper park on foot or by bike at any time, and go to the outdoor planetarium by the observatory to watch the sky show.” [Chico E-R]
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, also plans to livestream the shower, from 7 p.m. tonight through 11 p.m. PDT Thursday, at this link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc
To join NASA’s online conversation, tweet questions to @NASA_Marshall using the hashtag #askNASA, or post questions at broadcast time to the Marshall Space Flight Center Facebook.