Perseid Meteor Shower
Aug 05, 2023
The Perseids meteor shower is an annual event that occurs from mid-July to late August. This timeframe is when Earth passes through the debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. The meteor shower reaches its peak around August 12th each year, and during this peak, the Perseids can produce a higher number of meteors per hour. The dust collides with our atmosphere, where they disintegrate and create colorful streaks across the sky.
Meteor showers are named from the point in which they appear to originate from in the sky. This point of origin is called the radiant. For the Perseids meteor shower, the radiant lies in the constellation of Perseus.
Comet Swift-Tuttle is the source of the Perseids meteor shower. Comet Swift-Tuttle was discovered in 1862 independently by both Luis Swift and Horace Tuttle. It made its closest approach to the Sun in 1992 and will return again in 2125. It has an orbital period of 133 years. So while we won't be able to see this comet in our lifetime, we can see its effects of it each year. The best time to view the Perseids is on August 12 would be early in the morning around 4 AM until sunrise. It is important to seek out dark skies in order to see this celestial event.
