Don't forget to tune in to your local sky tomorrow night!
Summer's annual meteor shower promises to put on a dazzling show when it peaks this weekend — provided you're far from city lights. With no moon in sight to interfere with the Perseid meteor shower, skygazers can expect to spot streaking fireballs late Sunday into dawn Monday regardless of time zone. Astronomers estimate as many as 60 meteors per hour could flit across the sky at the shower's peak.
This year's sky show comes with an added bonus: Mars will be visible as a bright red dot in the northeastern sky....
Since Perseid meteors can be seen from any direction in the sky, viewers should pick out a dark patch of sky free of light pollution and wait for the meteors to appear.
Dim meteors appear as a momentary flash of light while the brighter ones leave a glowing streak. The number of Perseids zipping across the sky should increase steadily through the night, peaking just before sunrise. Although the peak occurs this weekend, the Perseids are visible for several nights after that.
I could have used some entertainment like that the other night.... I've seen the Perseids only once, when I was a camp counselor many years ago.
Love these, because they are always around my birthday (Monday). Hoping for a clear sky ...
Posted by: Susan | August 11, 2007 at 11:08 PM
What time??
Posted by: Elena | August 12, 2007 at 09:24 AM
As soon as it gets dark enough! They're going on all weekend -- Sunday night into Monday morning is just the peak.
Posted by: Karen | August 12, 2007 at 10:56 AM
I think I saw two meteors! I've never seen one before in my life!
Posted by: Elena | August 13, 2007 at 09:13 AM
Yay for you! Although I was up ALL NIGHT with insomnia again, I couldn't see anything because of all the streetlights and houselights. I was too busy tossing and turning and cursing anyhow. :-(
Posted by: Karen | August 13, 2007 at 09:46 AM