Perseid Meteor Shower August 2014: Best Viewing Times and Locations
The annual Perseid meteor shower is upon us once again, and Northern Hemisphere residents can expect to see "shooting stars" streak across the night sky all month, with peak viewing occurring next week, or mid-August. But those looking to catch a glimpse of the Perseids this year will have to deal with one major issue: the moon. This weekend will see another so-called supermoon light up the sky, and though the full moon occurs on Sunday, the moon should still be plenty bright next week during the Perseid peak.
ANNUAL EVENT
The Perseid meteor shower occurs every summer as the Earth moves near the Swift-Tuttle Comet and the debris from the comet's tail collides with Earth's atmosphere. The subsequent meteor invasion "emanates from the Perseus constellation," hence the name, reports the Huffington Post. The Perseid meteor shower is considered by many to be the most consistent one of its kind that occurs on Earth annually.
BAD MOON
Typically, the Perseids can deliver up to 100 falling stars per hour at its peak; however, this weekend's supermoon should reduce that number significantly. The full moon will be at its brightest this Sunday, but will still have enough light left on Wednesday to make early evening Perseid viewing very difficult. The news isn't all bad though as skywatchers should be able to catch a glimpse of falling stars for about a week after the show's peak this week.
HOW TO VIEW THE PERSEID SHOWER
The Perseids will only be visible to those in the Northern Hemisphere, so if that's you, you'll want to head outside around 2 a.m. during the shower's peak from Aug. 10 to Aug. 13. The reason for the late viewing time is because of the full moon which will be brighter earlier in the evening, and thus hamper meteor viewing.
You don't need any binoculars or telescopes to view the shooting stars, but if you wear glasses you should wear those. All you have to do is be outside at or around 2 a.m. with a clear view of the sky and be patient.