(--A Perseid fireball photographed August 12, 2006, by Pierre Martin of Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.)
On Sunday, August 12, the yearly light show that is the Perseid meteor shower will be at its peak. This is the one time of year when you can see many--even DOZENS--of meteors every hour. Estimates are you will be able to see one or two 'falling stars' per minute. The added bonus this year: the moon will be in its 'new' phase, so there will be no moonlight to detract from being able to see the shower.
The source of the shower is Comet Swift-Tuttle. When the Earth and the comet's tail intersect, any small bit of dust that hits the atmosphere will create a streak of light, or 'falling star.' The show begins around 9PM and the amount of meteors increase until just before dawn on Monday morning when you could see one or more per minute.
The youngest daughter and I watched this wonderful show many, many times. It is something you definitely cannot miss--and you will never forget. While the best viewing is on the 12th, there should be an increase in meteors already and should continue for a few days after Sunday. Of course, it is best to look up when you are away from city lights, but we were able to see quite clearly here in our town. We don't rival New York City in terms of lights, but we DO have a streetlight across the street from us and we had a wonderful show to watch. So, circle your calendar now and make it a point to watch the sky on Sunday!
For more on the shower from NASA, go here. The Wikipedia article on the Perseids is here.
The Sky Is Falling!!!!!
