Perseid Meteors: The Fireballs Are Already Here, The Shower Comes Next Week

Antonio Canova's Perseus With the Head of Medusa   Vatican Museum 

Heads up, my friends!

They're back.  Time for the Perseids, the most reliable meteor shower of the year. But you don't have to wait to see some potentially amazing meteors. New research has concluded that the Perseid event produces more fireballs - meteors brighter than the planets, Jupiter and Venus - than any other shower.  There's even more good news. Since fireballs are random meteors, you don't have to watch the skies after midnight to see them. Anytime after sunset works. One of the most spectacular fireballs I ever saw cut across at least 120 degrees of steel blue sky about half an hour after sunset. 

Next week. the shower reaches its peak Monday and Tuesday night, August 12 and 13. A waxing moon will provide minimal interference.  Earth passes through some significant debris trails this year and sky watchers could see as many as 100 to 200 meteors per hour between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM each night.

So gather family and friends, find an open sky away from city lights, bring blankets or lawn chairs, insect repellent, your favorite munchies and libations, and enjoy the show.

For more information, check out this page.  In addition, spaceweather.com will likely have some informative posts on the shower over the next week.