Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks in August 2024 with Up to 100 Meteors per Hour

Astronomy enthusiasts, get ready for a spectacular display in the night sky as the Perseid meteor shower peaks in August 2024. This popular summertime meteor shower will treat spectators to a whizzing spectacle of up to 100 meteors per hour, leaving long wakes of light and color behind them. Coinciding with a potential appearance of the northern lights, this event is not to be missed.

Key Takeaways:

• The Perseid meteor shower peaks in activity on Sunday and Monday, according to the American Meteor Society, and is active from July 14 to September 1.
• The meteors are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere after the moon sets, around 11:30 p.m. local time, when the sky is relatively clear and free from local light pollution and clouds.
• The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth passing through the debris trail of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, resulting in meteors when the broken bits of the comet collide with our atmosphere at high speed.
• The meteor shower can produce anywhere from 50 to 100 meteors visible per hour, and the meteor shower is also famous for the fireballs it throws out, which can persist longer than an average meteor streak.
• The Perseid meteor shower is considered one of the best and most consistent of the year, with a peak that occurs in the warm summertime.

Statistics:

• Up to 100 meteors per hour can be visible during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower (American Meteor Society).
• The Perseid meteor shower is active from July 14 to September 1 (American Meteor Society).
• The meteor shower peaks on Sunday and Monday, according to the American Meteor Society.
• Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle is a gargantuan comet, twice the size of the asteroid theorized to have wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago (NASA).

Sources:

• American Meteor Society (no date mentioned)
• NASA (no date mentioned)