Annual Perseid Meteor Shower Set to Peak: What You Need to Know
By Fox News // August 12, 2019
meteor shower peaks on August 12-13
ABOVE VIDEO: Perseid Meteor Shower 2019-08-11/12 (Meppen/Germany)
(FOX NEWS) – Stargazers are in for a treat on Monday and Tuesday, when the annual Perseid meteor will reach its peak.
“This year’s Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12th and 13th,” said Bill Cooke of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office, in a statement. “The Moon will be nearly new, setting the stage for a great display.”
The Perseid meteor shower occurs when pieces of the Swift-Tuttle comet hit Earth’s atmosphere. According to the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, specks of the comet hit the atmosphere at 140,000 mph and disintegrate in flashes of light.
Scientists explain that lunar glare during last year’s Perseid meteor shower reduced their visibility to 20 meteors per hour. This year, however, skywatchers could see up to 100 meteors an hour in a clear, dark sky away from city lights, according to NASA’s Cooke.
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE ON FOX NEWS
CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS
