The Perseid meteor shower, aka one of the best shooting star displays of the whole year, is set to illuminate the sky on Aug. 12. This year, the Perseid meteor shower will reportedly produce up to 150 meteors per hour. And the good news for us? It'll be visible across the Northern Hemisphere — which includes the U.S. Yay!
The Perseid meteor shower, like other meteor showers, happens when the world passes through a comet's trail of debris. The tiny bits and pieces that come off the comet hit the Earth's atmosphere, creating these gorgeous bright streaks across the sky that are more commonly known as "shooting stars." But the Perseid meteor shower is certainly one of the most impressive — a star among stars, if you will.
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Sometimes producing as many as 200 meteors per hour, this famous meteor shower dates back almost 2,000 years. But if you're planning on watching the Perseid meteor shower in 2017, there's a few things you should know.
Perseid Meteor Shower 2017
Some of the meteors this year will be especially hard to spot because of how bright the moon is expected to be that evening.
You can expect to see a meteor every couple of minutes.
The weather will definitely play a factor in how good your visibility will be.
The best place to watch is an area away from light pollution, where you can get comfortable.
The best time to watch is late on Aug. 12 or early in the morning on Aug. 13 — sometime between midnight and sunrise. You should allow a half hour for your eyes to get used to the dark.
This moonrise and moonset calculator can help you figure out optimal times and places to stand if you're unsure.
Happy "shooting star" gazing!
h/t Newsweek.com
