Meteor showers are incredible sights to see. Unfortunately, some of the brightest and best take place in the wintertime, which means sitting outside to enjoy them is a bit on the chilly side. The good news is, however, that one of 2021’s most spectacular meteor showers takes place in the warm, lazy days of summer. The Perseid Meteor Shower is set to put on a show for us in mid-August. You won’t want to miss this! (1)
August 2021 Perseid Meteor Shower
Every year, the Perseid Meteor Shower takes place between July 14 and August 24. The 2021 meteor shower is set up to be one of the most spectacular of the year. It will be at its strongest on the nights of August 11, 12, and 13. The best part? There won’t be a moon those nights, meaning that the perseids will be even more visible. (2)
The Perseid Meteor Shower is actually made up of debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, the parent comet to the Perseids. As the comet completes its orbit, it gets close enough to Earth every August for its debris to crash into our upper atmosphere. These bits and pieces are traveling at about 130,000 miles per hour.
Tips For Viewing The 2021 Perseid Meteor Shower
Perseids tend to be quite bright, so even in reasonably polluted cities, they can still be visible. Still, you’ll get a better view if you go somewhere outside the city with clear air and no light pollution. The sky will then be darker so you can truly make the most of this incredible event. Even better if you can find a place with an open sky and not many trees blocking your view. A hillside, open field, or a lake are great options.
Meteor Shower Viewing Takes Time
Don’t expect to just walk outside and see thousands of meteors raining across the night’s sky endlessly. First of all, it takes your eyes about 20 minutes to adapt to the dark sky. Second, even the biggest meteor showers come in bouts. This means that you’ll see groups of them interspersed with times where you don’t see anything.
To truly enjoy it, you must be patient, so grab a blanket, your favorite lawn chair, and a thermos of your number-one beverage. Recline, relax, and enjoy both the meteor shower and simply being outside on a beautiful summer evening.
Watch After Midnight But Before Dawn
Yes, to get the most out of a meteor shower you have to stay up past your bedtime. Normally, meteors increase after midnight. If you wait too long or simply try getting up early, the slowly rising sun will overpower the meteors. Your best bet is likely between midnight and two or three in the morning.
They All Come From The Same Constellation
Astrologists named this one the Perseid Meteor Shower because all of its meteors come from the constellation Perseus. In Greek mythology, Perseus was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman named Danaë. According to the ancient Greeks, the shower commemorates the time of year when Zeus would visit Danaë. He always arrived in a shower of gold.
Other 2021 Meteor Showers
If you don’t think you’ll be able to view the Perseids, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower is set to reach its peak between July 27 and 30 this year. From there, the Draconids will occur in early October, the Orionids later that month, and the Taurids and Leonids in November.
Read More: 50 Years Ago NASA Sent a Map Into Space to Help Aliens Find Earth—Now They’ve Got An Awesome Update
Sources
- “When Is the Perseid Meteor Shower 2021 and Where Can I Watch?” Newsweek. Ed Browne. July 13, 2021.
- “Perseid Meteors 2021: All You Need To Know.” Earth Sky. Bruce McClure and Deborah Byrd. August 1, 2021