The Perseid meteor shower is seen over Inner Mongolia, China, on August 13, 2023. (Photo by … [+] Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Monday evening sees the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, the year’s most prolific and popular display of “shooting stars” in the Northern Hemisphere. Hopefully one of the major astronomical moments of 2024, it’s not too late to make plans.
Here’s what you need to know about when, where and how to see the Perseid meteor shower in 2024:
When is the Perseid meteor shower?
In 2024, the peak of this meteor shower will occur late on Sunday, August 11th and in the early hours of Monday, August 12th. Although you can watch anytime during the hours of darkness, the best advice is to wait until the moon sets, around midnight and in the hours following. Prices tend to peak in the pre-dawn hours.
ForbesThe 2024 Perseid Meteor Shower—Your Questions Answered (and How to Pronounce It)from Jamie Carter
What is the Perseid meteor shower?
It is an annual display of “shooting stars” caused by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Discovered in 1862 at the same time by astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle, according to NASA, Swift/Tuttle returns to the inner solar system every 133 years. However, during its travels, it melts a bit as it approaches the sun, shedding dust and debris that itself orbits the sun in streams or clouds. As the Earth orbits the sun, it travels through various streams of comet debris, producing meteor showers – of which the Perseids are one of the densest.
Meteors – “shooting stars” – are small pieces of rock or dust that burn up as they strike the Earth’s atmosphere. Most are as small as a grain of sand.
Is there a Perseid meteor shower peak?
The exact peak — when meteor activity is expected to be at its peak — is 4 a.m. Universal Time (UTC/GMT) on Tuesday, Aug. 11, according to the American Meteor Society.
These are the times for North American time zones:
- 12:00 (midnight) EDT on Monday, August 12.
- 11:00 PM CDT Sunday, August 11th.
- 10:00 a.m. MDT Sunday, August 11.
- 9:00 PM PDT Sunday, August 11th.
However, since the meteor rates are mostly identical for about eight hours on either side of the peak, all you need to do is find a clear, dark sky between sunset on Sunday, August 11 and sunrise on Monday , August 12. it will also be worth watching out for after dark on Monday, August 12th through Tuesday, August 13th.
The Perseid meteors appear to flow away from the “radiant” point of the shower near the border of … [+] Perseus and Cassiopeia.
Sky and telescope illustration (used with permission)
Where and When to Look for the Perseid Meteor Shower
This is an all-sky event as “shooting stars” can appear anywhere at any time during the night, although the Society for Popular Astronomy recommends looking about 30-40 degrees away from the radiant spot. The radiant point is the constellation Perseus, which will rise in the northeastern night sky as seen from the Northern Hemisphere after dark. It will be highest in the sky in the hours after midnight.
So if you’re only going to be out for a few hours, focus on 2 a.m. on Monday, August 12. That said, looking just after sunset can bring you unexpected sightings of “Earthgrazers,” meteors with long trains that seem to glide by. along the top of the atmosphere.
The best places to see the Perseid Meteor Shower
Get away from light pollution or find a campsite or accommodation in an International Dark Sky Site (US/Worldwide), a Dark Sky Reserve (Canada) or a Starlight Reserve (Spain). If this is impossible, observe from somewhere without bright lights in your vision. If you choose to travel to a popular national park, don’t expect empty roads, lots of parking lots, and camping or lodging available. Try to choose a less popular place to avoid the crowds. After all, where there are people, there is always light. You don’t want darkness.
The Best Ways to Watch Shooting Stars
Look at the sky as much as possible and develop your night vision. The latter lasts about 30 minutes. Don’t look at the smartphone screen (its white light instantly resets the clock in your night vision) and don’t use telescopes or binoculars. The only equipment you need is your bare eyes—though a lawn chair and blanket, or a tub of water, helps.
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