2016 Perseid meteor shower

The 2016 Perseid meteor shower begins on Friday the 12th of August next. This year the Perseid meteor shower will be all the more spectacular. Usually every year the Perseid meteor shower produces about 80 meteors per hour. However, this year it is predicted to reach 150 and possibly even 200 meteors per hour! Hopefully the skies will remain clear for this years show!

The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the debris left after the passing of the comet Swift-Tuttle. It last passed nearby Earth during its orbit around the sun in 1992, and the next time will be in 2126. Earth pass’s through the path of debris every year, with August 12th being the peak. It is still possible to see a Perseid meteor shower before or after this date. The northern hemisphere will have the best view of the Perseid meteor shower.

perseids radiant

Perseids radiant

The meteors will seem to originate from the constellation Perseus, which appears on the horizon at about 10 p.m. local time. However, the most meteors will be visible after midnight. They can appear all over the sky, but they will always look like they’re streaking away from Perseus.

what causes shooting stars

Via Space.com

More information on the Perseid meteor shower:

https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html

https://www.space.com/18507-meteor-showers-shooting-stars-infographic.html