Every August, the most entertaining spectacle in our solar system isn’t a movie theater or a streaming service, but the Perseid meteor shower, a cosmic fireworks show that unfolds in the night sky above us. This year’s rendition of this long-running annual show promises to be spectacular, as it coincides with the Northern Hemisphere’s warmest nights and early mornings of the year.
The 2024 lunar viewing will feature some impressive, possibly blockbuster, viewing conditions.
What does a meteorite taste like? Someone discovered it and bottled it.
What exactly is the Perseid meteor shower?
The Perseid meteor shower is an annual encounter between Earth and a trail of debris left behind by the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Just like Earth, Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle orbits the Sun, but its orbit follows a different path that happens to intersect with Earth’s. As Earth orbits the trail of these tiny particles, called meteoroids, they crash into the atmosphere at high speeds and ignite. It is only at the moment of their spectacular death that a meteoroid becomes a so-called meteor.
All of this happens about 60 miles above your head during meteor watching. For reference, the Moon is about 24,000 miles away, and Mirfak, the brightest star in the constellation Perseus, is 510 light-years away. In other words, the meteors are very close — close enough that you can sometimes hear them.
With a nucleus 16 miles in diameter, Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle is huge and is the largest object known to have passed Earth multiple times. It won’t approach Earth again until 2126. Will this giant comet collide with Earth? Not in 2126, and probably never. But there is a small chance that it could happen sometime in the distant future, with catastrophic results.
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When will the Perseid meteor shower peak in 2024?
The meteor show will reach its peak before dawn on August 12, with sometimes up to 100 meteors per hour.
For the best results, stay up late on Sunday, August 11, until early Monday, or look up at the sky during the dark hours through the end of August. Viewing conditions will vary depending on how dim the Moon is, but in 2024 we’re lucky to see it at 50% brightness at peak. The Moon is also scheduled to set below the horizon around midnight, making the early morning hours virtually moonless for meteor watching.
As always, the exact schedule for the month varies by location, so be sure to check listings for your area.
It’s also worth noting that the Perseids are one of the longest-running meteor showers, lasting for more than a month each year, and can be seen from mid-July to late August. If moon and weather conditions are favorable, the most meteors would theoretically be visible during peak activity, but you have a chance to see the Perseids on any clear night during the meteor shower’s active period. For example, the new moon on August 4 will darken the sky, potentially providing great viewing opportunities even outside of peak times.
How to Spot the Perseid Meteor Shower in 2024
The Perseid meteor shower gets its name from the fact that the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus. However, this is a bit misleading, since you don’t need to worry about finding the Perseids; the meteors appear to streak across the entire sky during the shower. Pointing out the Perseids while observing will make you a good student who raises their hand at a stargazing party, but it won’t help anyone who wants to see more meteors.
For optimal observation, go to a dark area away from city lights. Even suburban and suburban lights can tarnish the precious darkness, so go to remote wilderness areas if possible. Allow about 30 minutes for your pupils to dilate and activate your body’s little-used night vision mode. Telescopes and binoculars are fun, but they are unnecessary or counterproductive because they limit your peripheral vision.
But that’s too complicated. Want to gaze at the stars for the first time in a while? Just lie down on a blanket, relax, and look up at the sky, just like they do in the movies.