- Perseid meteor shower is visible in Michigan
- The annual meteor shower occurs between mid-July and September
- This year, peak activity is expected between Aug. 11 and 12
The Perseid meteor shower is back and Michiganders may be able to see Perseids dashing across the night sky through September. The annual meteor shower is one of the few visible in the summer without the use of a telescope.
On most nights, only a few meteors will be visible each hour. Activity is expected to peak between Aug. 11 and 12, when up to 200 meteors can be visible an hour, according to NASA.
During its peak, the moon will be in the first quarter and the best time to view the meteor shower is between midnight and dawn beginning Aug. 11, according to the science website earthsky.org.
Meteors — little pieces of rock or dust that fall through the atmosphere — occur when comets orbiting the sun leave behind debris. The fragments become visible when they are about 60 miles from the ground.
What is a Perseid meteor shower?
The Perseid meteor originates from Comet Swift-Tuttle, a large periodic comet that orbits the sun every 133 years.
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When the comet nears the sun, it emits dust that creates a dust trail around its orbit. Once Earth passes through the debris trail, that dust enters the Earth’s atmosphere creating a meteor shower.
In 1922, the comet reached perihelion, its closest proximity to the sun. It isn’t expected to happen again until 2125.
Best place to see it.
The best place to view the meteor shower is away from the city, far from the light pollution that can make it harder to see. Anywhere near the countryside where it becomes very dark at night is ideal.
While the meteors can be seen from anywhere in the sky, they will appear in the northern sky near the constellation Perseus.
Before going out to view Perseids it is recommended that you check the weather forecast for fog, clouds and the temperature. The meteor shower is easier to see in clear, dark skies.
It may take a while before you see any meteors so it is important to prepare for cooler temperatures.
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