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Perseid meteor shower begins tonight. Here’s California viewing info
San Francisco Chronicle • • science
Key Points:
- The Perseid meteor shower, one of the year's most dazzling, begins July 17 and runs through August 24, with its peak expected overnight on August 12-13.
- Visibility in San Francisco may be hindered by fog and clouds, especially along the coast and at Mount Tamalpais, with inland areas east of the Caldecott Tunnel offering the clearest views after sunset.
- Up to 75 meteors per hour may be visible as Earth passes through debris from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, with meteors appearing to radiate from the constellation Perseus.
- The peak viewing night coincides with a new moon, providing darker skies and ideal conditions for observing the meteor shower.
- Increased cloud cover from Tropical Storm Elida early next week may further reduce visibility of the Perseids.
