The 2021 Perseid meteor shower: Here’s when to watch

[ad_1]

By: Tiffany Hudson, Nextar MediaWire

Published: Jul 17, 2021 / 3:34pm EST / Update: Jul 17, 2021 / 3:35pm EST

A Perseid meteor pierces the sky over a camping site in the Negev desert near the city of Mitzpe Ramon in Israel, August 11, 2020, during a Perseid meteor shower. (Photo by Menachem Kahane/AFP via Getty Images)

CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) – One of the year’s best meteor showers, Perseid, is beginning to wow stargazers across the U.S.

At its peak, the shower provides 50-100 meteors per hour for skywatchers to see, according to NASA.

Watch: Dr. Fauci, singer Olivia Rodrigo reads fan tweets to promote COVID-19 vaccine When to watch

The Perseid meteor shower is an annual event that can be seen in July and August. The Perseids were first seen beginning July 14, but will continue through August 24. The peak is expected around August 11-13.

Clear skies are key to watching meteor showers. It can be seen in some places as early as 10pm, but the nighttime peak is between 2am and sunrise.

The White House Offers Bonuses Of Up To $10 Million In Fighting Ransomware What Is It?

Comet 109P/Swift-Turtle is responsible for the light show. The Barshaw meteor shower is caused by the Earth’s movement through debris and dust particles in the comet.

The list: 2021’s most and least stressful cities

These dust particles become visible streaks of light in the sky when they collide with our atmosphere.

It’s called the Perseid meteor shower because the meteorites appear to have originated from the constellation Perseus – although that’s not the source of the show.

Images from past shows Long exposure image shows the Perseid meteor crossing the night sky and star trails over the ruins of a medieval castle in the village of Kriva, about 100 kilometers northwest of Minsk, on August 12, 2019 (Photo by Sergey Gapon) / AFP (Must Image reads from SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images) Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Nevada – AUGUST 13: A perseid meteor streaks through the sky over desert pines on August 13, 2015 in Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Nevada. The annual parade, known as the Perseid Shower because the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus in the northeastern sky, is the result of Earth’s orbit passing through debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Top Shot – Perseids meteors cross the night sky over a Catholic church in the village of Fuchin, about 380 km southwest of Minsk, on August 12, 2018 (Photo by Sergei GAPON/AFP) (Photo by Sergei GAPON) / AFP) Credit SERGEI GAPON / AFP via Getty Images) Top Shot – A Perseid meteor pierces the sky over a camping site in the Negev desert near the city of Mitzpe Ramon on August 11, 2020 during the Perseid meteor showers, which occur every year when the Earth passes through a cloud Debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. (MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP Photo) (MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP Photo via Getty Images) TOPSHOT – Perseids meteors cross the night sky over a stork sitting in its nest in the village of Yatskowice, about 374 km southwest of Minsk, on August 13, 2018 (Photo by Serge Gapon/AFP) (Source read SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)

[ad_2]