The Sky is Falling

During a meteor shower, one can see dozens of meteors in a short period of time. “This is because these showers are caused by the Earth going through a region of space that is strewn with a particularly dense concentration of space particles. Such particles are left on the tracks of comets, which are essentially dirty balls of ice. While approaching the sun, a comet melts and releases some of its dirt, which forms the space debris responsible for the meteor showers,” Bose said.

The best time of the year to see this display of nature is from mid-July to mid-August because during this time of the year the Earth crosses the tracks of the comet Swift-Tuttle. Bose said that the bulk of the Perseids can be seen between August 8 and 14. The peak this year will be in the early hours of August 13. “The moon, however, will play spoilsport by washing out the fainter meteors,” he said.

Usually, the best time to watch any meteor shower is between midnight and dawn. Bose said this is because that is when Earth’s spin causes your location to plunge along its orbital path and, therefore, dive into the meteoroid stream. “This year, however, owing to moonlight that time may not be the best for viewing. You may, therefore, want to try gazing before moonrise, between 8:30-10 p.m., on Friday, August 11, and Saturday, August 12,” he said.

Bose suggests resting on a recliner or a blanket spread on the ground and facing north. The Perseids should streak overhead from north to south. Meteor showers are best viewed with bare eyes, so binoculars or telescopes are not necessary.

“Although this year’s Perseids are not expected to be a spectacle, it is not unlikely that some of us who persist through the night are rewarded by a few occasional bright streaks,” Bose said.

For more information about the meteor showers, Bose can be reached at 509.335.3698 or at sukanta@wsu.edu.