· ·

2020 Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight

2020-perseid-meteor-shower-peaks-tonight

The Perseid meteor shower — one of the best and brightest of the year — is set to peak in the late hours of Tuesday into Thursday, August 11 into 13. This is one of the most anticipated showers of the year, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, perseids will peak close to the new moon, and so the moonlight will present minimal interference.

The shower will start peaking in the late hours of Tuesday with as many as 100 meteors per hour. 

The greatest number of meteors will be seen Wednesday morning, but will still be visible on Thursday. Even outside the peak timeframe, observers will be able to spot a few meteors between midnight and dawn.

A good way to witness the phenomenon is to look as late in the evening as possible.

According to NASA, the best way to enjoy the shower is to point yourself generally toward the north and look up the sky.

"The Perseids generally appear to radiate from a point high in the north, called the radiant," wrote NASA.

"You can see the Perseid meteor shower best in the Northern Hemisphere and down to the mid-southern latitudes, and all you need to catch the show is darkness, somewhere comfortable to sit and a bit of patience," Space also notes.

YouTube video

Featured image credit: Jason Guenzel/Flickr

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *