Check Out The Perseid Meteor Shower's Peak August 11th & 12th Right Here on Long Island!

 What could very well turn out to be the best night for stargazers all year long is almost upon us. Astronomers are predicting a big outburst from the Perseid meteors as they peak between the evening of August 11th and morning of August 12th, potentially lighting the sky with as many as 200 meteors per hour. 

The actual number of visible meteors will vary depending on when they peak–if the outburst occurs earlier Thursday night there won't be quite as much to see, but if it occurs later Friday morning in the pre-dawn hours it could be quite the stunning display.

For Your Guide to Watching The Perseid Meteor Shower on Long Island, click here!

Photo by Kim MyoungSung, via WikiCommons. (CC BY 2.0)

Tips for Observing the Perseid Meteor Shower & Summer’s Other Starry Nights

 This week, stargazers will be coming out in droves at night to open areas where they can see the night sky and observe the Perseid meteor shower. Each year, Earth passes through the orbital path of Comet Swift-Tuttle, which leaves behind debris and comet dust, including the meteors that we call the Perseid.

The bright, quick-moving meteors leave behind bright streaks in the sky that last for a few moments after the meteor is gone. This year, the best viewing period for the Perseid is expected to be in the predawn hours of August 11, 12, 13, and 14, so unless you are a night owl, it may be best to set an alarm on those days to wake up after midnight and check the sky.  

To find out more about the best times & places to view the Perseid Meteor Shower, click here!

Photo by Brocken Inaglory, via Wikimedia Commons.