ORLANDO, Fla. – It is that time of the year when the most popular meteor shower lights up the night sky.
On average, the Perseid meteor shower usually begins around the middle of July and ends by August.
This week, the peak of the Perseid showers will occur on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, as pieces of ice and dust meet the Earth’s atmosphere, creating bright streaks across the night sky. At times, you could spot up to 90 per hour in the dark skies.
Viewing tips:
- Look toward the meteor shower’s namesake, the Perseus constellation. This can be found toward the northeast after midnight.
- To best view the evening light show, it is best to watch during the overnight and early morning hours.
- Take in as much of the sky as you can. Ideally, you should lie on your back away from any visual obstructions.
- Move away from as much “light pollution” as possible. This includes general city lights like streetlights etc.
- Limit looking down at your phone, as your eyes need time to adjust to the dark.
Viewing conditions:
Speaking of light pollution, the moon is in a new moon phase with near 0% illumination, making viewing the meteor shower even better!
Limited cloud cover and dim moon phase will make it an ideal night for spotting meteors.
Weather conditions look to be favorable as well. Cloud cover between midnight and 6 a.m. will run between 15-30 percent with temperatures remaining near 80 degrees. Factoring in the muggy air, don’t expect it to be a comfortable night. At times overnight, some areas will feel more like the upper 80s to 90 degrees.