Perseids meteor shower should peak tonight

The Perseids meteor shower should peak tonight.

The sun sets at 7:51 p.m. local time and the shower should be visible soon thereafter. The meteor shower peak tonight as the Earth passes through debris from comet Swift-Tuttle.

This year should be particularly good because the moon is waning crescent (almost new) and skies are projected to be clear.

According to NASA , “The Perseid meteor shower is often considered to be the best meteor shower of the year due to its high rates and pleasant late-summer temperatures. Unlike last year’s shower coinciding with the full moon, this year’s moon will be a waning crescent, allowing even some of the fainter meteors to be seen.”

So, how many can you see?

“People in the U.S. can reasonably expect to see around 40 Perseids in the hour just before dawn on the peak nights. That’s about one every couple of minutes, which is not bad,” said Bill Cooke, who leads NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “However, we are assuming you are out in the country, well away from cities and suburbs.”

The brighter skies of suburban areas greatly reduce the rates, with 10 or fewer expected in an hour. Fireballs are common with the Perseids.