The Perseid meteor shower is back, dazzling the skies with an explosion of light and color.
The annual meteor shower has been active since July and peaks before dawn on Monday. University of Warwick astronomer Don Polacco said it was one of the brightest and most easily observed meteor showers of the year, producing “bright blue meteors and lots of them”.
More than 50 meteors are expected to occur per hour, according to the American Meteor Society. Showers will continue until September 1st.
Here’s what you need to know about the Perseids and other meteor showers.
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What is a meteor shower?
Meteor showers occur multiple times each year, and you don’t need special equipment to see them.
Most meteor showers begin with comet debris. The source of the Perseid meteor shower is comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
When rocks from space enter Earth’s atmosphere, they become extremely hot due to the resistance from the air. This causes the air around them to glow, leaving behind them for a moment the end of a fiery tail, or “shooting star.”
In the early morning hours of August 12, 2016, streaks appeared in the sky during the annual Perseids meteor shower in the Guadarrama Mountains near Madrid. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Pockets of glowing air around fast-moving space rocks, ranging in size from dust particles to rocks, may be visible in the night sky.
NASA’s Bill Cook said the Perseids are easier to spot than other showers because they are caused by “larger particles than many other showers” and look like “bright fireballs.”
How to see meteor showers
Meteor showers are usually best visible between midnight and before dawn.
Shooting stars are easier to see under dark skies away from city lights. Meteor showers also appear brightest on cloudless nights when the moon’s eclipse is smallest.
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The Northern Hemisphere offers the best views of the Perseid meteor shower. This year’s peak coincides with a month that is about 44% full.
When is the next meteor shower?
The Meteor Association is creating a list of upcoming major meteor showers, including the maximum observation date and moonlight conditions.
The next major meteor shower is the Orionids, which peaks in mid-October.