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How to see the Perseids meteor shower this summer
AOL.com • • science
Key Points:
- The Perseids meteor shower occurs annually from July 17 to August 23, with a peak expected between August 12 and 13 this year, according to the American Meteor Society.
- Known as the best meteor shower of the year, the Perseids can produce 50 to 100 visible meteors per hour in clear, dark skies, featuring swift, bright streaks and colorful wakes.
- The shower originates from debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years and creates fireballs—larger, brighter explosions of light caused by bigger particles.
- Best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere during predawn hours, the Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus in the northern sky.
- NASA recommends observers lie flat on their backs away from light pollution and allow about 30 minutes for eyes to adjust to the dark for optimal viewing.
