Expect the 2016 Perseid Meteor shower to be electrifying! Approximately 150 meteors/hour are expected to be seen at the peak of the outburst, between August 11-13, so you might see more meteors firing up the sky at the same time. This year, astronomers say, the number of meteors will be double as the usual rates, so try to go out of the city, in a less light polluted area, to be able to enjoy the show at max.
But what is the Perseid meteor shower and how does it happen? Every year, from mid-July, with the peak in activity between 9 and 14 August, 'till the end of August, the Earth passes through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle. The Perseids are so called because the point from which they appear to come, called the radiant, lies in the constellation Perseus. The name derives in part from the word Perseides (Περσείδες), a term found in Greek mythology referring to the sons of Perseus.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the peak of the shower will be in the night of August 11-12. The constellation of Perseus rises about 10pm, but because the Moon will be in the sky until midnight, you'll have to wait for the predawn hours to enjoy the spectacular light show. Not only are those the darkest hours, best for glimpsing fainter shooting stars, but the radiant of the Perseids in the Perseus star constellation appears to rise above the northeast horizon, allowing for higher density of meteors spreading out from that part of the sky.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the peak of the shower will be on the night of Aug 12 to morning of Aug 13, but the Waxing Gibbous Moon will not produce favorable viewing circumstances for observers, so better wait until it sets. Also, the radiant of the shower doesn't get too high in the sky, so the Perseids, unfortunatelly, are much fainter in this part of the Earth.
Be aware that local conditions such as light pollution, cloud cover, and precipitation will also play a major role in the number of meteors you are likely to see. Looking directly up at the sky or into the radiant is not recommended since this is just the point in which they appear to come from. You are more likely to see a trail when looking slightly away from this point. Looking half-way up into the sky will lead to the best show in the house.
Watching a meteor shower sometimes takes a great deal of patience, but if you wait long enough, you should be rewarded with an experience that won’t soon be forgotten. Happy gazing!
