2019’s Perseid Meteor Shower Will Deal With a Bright Moon

The meteors are dust grains that were ejected as part of the tail of comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun once every 133 years. Meteor showers therefore tend to be named after the constellation that matches this location. This year, the shower will peak in the predawn hours of Tuesday, Aug. 13.

This year, the meteor shower peaks between the night of August 12 and the morning hours of August 13. Such meteors abruptly end their flight across the sky in a flash of light resembling a miniature strobe. During the meteor shower an average of 60 meteors per hour can be seen. Light blue colors mark spots with artificial brightness of up to 1 percent above the natural light. To enjoy it, all you have to do is look up at the night sky. The peak of the Perseids coincides with a full moon, which means many meteors that would otherwise be visible will be washed out.

The Perseids are the most reliable and often the most dazzling meteor shower of the year. The best time for seeing Perseid meteors starts after midnight, when the shower's radiant is higher in the northeastern sky.

The Perseids, known for being bright and fast, are streaking across the sky as we speak, but will peak starting this weekend.

The Royal Astronomical Society in the United Kingdom said: "The Perseid meteors seem to come from a single point, the "radiant", situated in the constellation Perseus, giving the shower its name". The Perseids appear to radiate from a point in the constellation Perseus.

"This is however just an effect of perspective, as the meteors move parallel to each other, much like drivers see when driving in heavy rain". All that is recommended is to take a blanket or long chair to sit comfortably, adequate clothing, snacks and drinks if you would like and take your time! As the full moon is on August 15, moonlight from the waxing gibbous moon close to the nights around the peak will obscure all but the brightest meteors.