FROM NASA: This week the Earth is entering a stream of debris from giant Comet Swift-Tuttle, source of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Forecasters say the show could be especially good this year because the Moon is nearly new when the shower peaks on Aug. 12-13.
The Perseid meteor shower is caused by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. Every 133 years the huge comet swings through the inner solar system and ejects a trail of dust and gravel along its orbit. When Earth passes through the debris, specks of comet-stuff hit the atmosphere at 140,000 mph and disintegrate in flashes of light.
There is the possibility of meteor rates as high as 100 per hour on the peak night.
Meteors from Comet Swift-Tuttle are called Perseids because they seem to fly out of the constellation Perseus. The best time to look starts around midnight. Meteors will be seen until dawn brightens the sky on Thursday morning, Aug. 13th, when Perseus is near its highest point in the sky.
For best results, get away from city lights. The darkness of the countryside multiplies the visible meteor rate 3- to 10-fold compared to city views. Many families plan camping trips to coincide with the Perseids. The Milky Way arching over a mountain campground provides the perfect backdrop for a meteor shower.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/how-to-watch-the-perseid-meteor-shower/
