Perseids: How to see the most powerful meteor shower of the year?

the meteor shower Most anticipated this year, The Perseidswill peak these days, presenting a dazzling celestial spectacle for skywatchers. Up to 100 meteors per hour are expected to cross the sky at an astonishing speed of 214,365 kilometers per hour.

According to Bill Cook, director of the U.S. Meteorite Environment Office, a potthe The Perseids It’s the richest meteor shower of the year because of its spectacular fireballs, described as “the closest thing we get each year to a celestial fireworks display.” These fireballs can be over a metre in diameter and shine brighter than Venus, one of the brightest objects in the night sky.

Perseids: Key Dates to Observe

1️⃣ The meteor shower will be visible from July 17 to August 24.

2️⃣ The busiest time is expected to be during the nights of August 11 to 13. It is estimated that during these nights it will be possible to observe between 60 and 100 meteors per hour, and sometimes it may reach 200 meteors.

3️⃣Absolute maximum of The Perseids It will take place on Monday, August 12, between 3 and 6 p.m. peninsular time in Spain. But this peak will occur during the day, so it will not be visible.

4️⃣ Although the maximum cannot be observed, as it is very heavy rain, it is expected that we will be able to see a fair number of meteors on the nights of approximately August 12, especially after the lunar sunset.

Perseids: Optimal conditions for observation

This year offers ideal conditions to enjoy the Perseids, as the moonlight will not overwhelm the faintest meteors. During the shower’s peak, the moon will be 50% illuminated and will set around midnight, providing a dark sky that contrasts with the bright fireballs.

For the best viewing experience, experts recommend finding a location with the darkest skies possible, away from light pollution. Lying on your back and looking at most of the sky, giving your eyes 30 to 45 minutes to adjust to the darkness, is key to fully enjoying the show. The best time to observe will be after midnight, around 2 a.m., when the meteor source is highest in the northeastern sky.

Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela are among the countries in South America best positioned to monitor climate change. The Perseids.

Origin and vision of the Perseids

the The Perseids It is the result of the Earth passing through debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, a discovery made by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli in 1865. The shower’s name comes from its apparent point of origin near the constellation Perseus.