The Perseids are currently making their return to the night sky. This meteor shower is the biggest of the year. It is debris from comet Swift-Tuttle, named after its discoverers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle, in 1802.
As they enter the Earth’s atmosphere, these dust grains heat up and disintegrate. The phenomenon is observable with the naked eye.
The best chances of observing the Perseids are between August 9 and 13 this year, with the highest probability during the night from Friday to Saturday, MeteoNews said in a statement on Thursday. That night, between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., up to 100 shooting stars per hour should be observed. The meteor shower is expected to peak around 3:00 a.m.
clear sky
From a meteorological point of view, nothing should stand in the way of the observation that night. To the north, the sky will be almost cloudless and the view will be clear. To the south, however, cloudy fields could slightly hinder observers.
On the other hand, the bright light of the full moon may eclipse the faintest light trails, so that only the brightest shooting stars will be visible. To see these celestial bodies, MeteoNews advises to observe the night sky towards the east or northeast, where the constellation Perseus rises.
To minimize light pollution, the weather service advises finding a place away from artificial lighting, such as in the mountains. The number of observable shooting stars should be much higher there than in the city.