The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most anticipated annual meteor showers that’s known for its dramatic visibility and high meteor count. This summer the meteor shower returns with dozens of meteors streaking across the sky every hour at its peak.
Already underway, this stunning shower is lighting up hot Texas summer nights until September. The annual meteor shower is expected to peak in mid August, when the meteor count will reach its highest. Don’t miss this awe-inspiring spectacle!
What is the Perseid Meteor Shower?
The Perseid meteors are fragments made of ice and rock off the Swift-Tuttle comet that plunge into Earth’s atmosphere at high velocities, producing brilliant trails of light known as shooting stars.
Widely considered one of year’s most dazzling meteor showers, NASA expects for the Perseid meteor shower to produce up to as many as 100 meteors per hour.
When does the Perseid meteor shower take place?
The annual meteor shower has already started and will continue until late August.
When does the Perseid meteor shower peak?
Stargazers can witness the highest concentration of shooting stars on August 11, 12, and 13. The meteor shower peaks the morning of August 12 at 10 am.
How to watch the Perseid meteor shower?
The best time to watch the meteor shower is when the sky is its darkest. Meaning late-night stargazers staying up from midnight to dawn looking northeast will be rewarded with higher meteor counts.
To get the most out of the experience, try to find areas either on the outskirts of Houston or any other area with minimal light pollution for a clearer view.
In clear conditions, the meteor shower is visible to the naked eye. However, it wouldn’t hurt to have binoculars or a telescope for a more up-close look at the stellar show.
See also: 70 awesome things to do this August in Houston