The Perseids meteor shower is about to cross Texas and you don’t want to miss it. The Perseids is one of the most popular meteor showers to view because this particular band of stars and comet dust pass the earth annually, and it’s also one of the strongest, and therefore most visible meteor showers to behold in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Perseid meteor shower originates from Comet Swift-Tuttle as it passes by earth. The comet doesn’t visit our planet’s vicinity often, but when it does, the meteor shower you’ll see is created by the star dust that the large comet leaves in its trail. So, mark your calendar and make arrangements for one of the coolest celestial events of the year.
The Perseids meteor shower will be visible from August 11th to August 13th but will be its most stunning and bright the morning of August 12th, which is when you should watch. Due to the quarter moon which is projected to be rather bright over these early August days, it may be a bit difficult to see, but astronomers are promising sky-gazers the ability to see more than just a few shooting stars when the comet passes over.
The best way to see the shower is to find a rural dark spot and set your eyes on the north sky. Minimizing light pollution is key when searching the sky for the celestial event, so refrain from looking at bright electronic screens or keeping headlights on. These lights will deter your eyes from adjusting to the night, which should take about half an hour. Space.com reports that onlookers should be able to see a rate of 60-70 meteors per hour when the meteor shower streaks through. Beyond light pollution, when searching for The Perseids, patience is key. Don’t be afraid to camp out for a while to see more than a few showers.
