Photo by NASA via Wikimedia Commons A meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The month of August is full of sky events – a partial lunar eclipse, a total solar eclipse, and now the Perseid Meteor shower. This happens between Aug. 12 and 13, when hundreds of meteors will light the night sky. According to Space.com, the shower peaks on Aug 12 at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), but on the nights of Aug. 11 and 12, meteor bursts can still be expected at rates of 40 to 50 meteors per hour. Although significantly lesser than that of the previous years (80 to 100 meteors per hour), the Perseids can still put on a good light show. When And Where To Watch The Perseid Meteor Shower NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com that this year’s shower and its visibility will be affected by the moon. With the moon three-quarters full during the shower’s peak, this means that the moonlight will make it harder to see the meteors in the night sky. Cooke however says that the Perseids are “rich in fireballs” which will most likely be seen. The shower is best seen in countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including the Philippines, down to the mid-southern latitudes. In Philippine time, the shower’s peak is happening at 1 a.m. on August 13, so the best time to watch would be the night of August 12. How To Watch The Perseid Meteor Shower The best place to watch the meteor shower, according to experts, is from a dark area that is away from city lights. If you live near the city, look for a spot that has the littlest number of artificial lights. This will not be as difficult if you live in the rural areas. Once you find a spot, bring a comfortable chair to sit on as you will need to be there for hours. Watching meteors takes a lot of patience so be ready to sit in the dark and possibly the cold. Make it a family bonding affair if you can. And finally, don’t forget to look up to the sky. If you live outside of the northern hemisphere or simply do not have the time to watch it in person, you can still catch it live online via the Slooh livestream. Facebook Comments
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