HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak from the night of August 11 into the early morning of August 12. This year’s display is expected to be particularly good due to minimal moonlight.
Dr. Mel Blake, Director of the Planetarium at the University of North Alabama, advises that the best time to view the Perseids is from midnight until dawn. “The shower will peak on the evening of Aug. 11 and the morning of Aug. 12, but the nights before and after should still show meteors from the shower,” said Dr. Blake. “The best times to watch are from midnight until dawn. This year, experts are predicting a maximum of 90 meteors per hour, with most observers seeing between 60 and 70 meteors. Predicting meteor numbers is difficult, so the actual numbers could be very different from those expected. The Moon will be in the first quarter phase, so it should not affect observing the meteor shower, making this a good year to watch the Perseids.”
Bits of debris from comet Temple-Tuttle will travel at speeds exceeding 100,000 miles per hour and enter Earth's atmosphere, creating brief streaks of light and occasional fireballs. As Earth passes through this debris field, it will enhance the meteor shower.
Want to capture the Perseid meteor shower? Taking great photos of the meteor shower requires some patience and preparation. Here are a few tips from NASA to help you capture the best shots:
- Find a Dark Spot with No Lights
- Use a Tripod
- Use a Wide-Angle Lens
- Shutter Release/Camera Timer
- Manual Focus
- Aim Your Camera in Direction of Meteor Shower
- Calculate Exposure Time
- Adjust Settings Based on Test Shots
- Enjoy the Show
