Perseid Meteor Shower tonight, clearer than ever

[Betsy Voinovich]

Because the moon won't be that bright tonight or tomorrow night (in a waning crescent phase) this is the perfect year for viewing the Perseid meteor shower. Good viewing starts after 11 pm and meteor showers are at their most intense before dawn, around 4:30 AM, tomorrow morning and Tuesday morning.

The Perseids usually generate 90 to 100 meteors and hour-- more than one a minute. It starts near the constellation Perseus which this week is in the northeastern sky.

Here is some time elapsed video from last year's shower:



I don't know where this was taken, but look at all the stars!

I think last year there were some good suggestions about where to go around here for the best view.

I know the big field at Lake Erie Nature Center (across from the building) is pretty great. Bring blankets and bug spray.

Betsy Voinovich

[Peter Grossetti]

The next major meteor showers, the Leonids, will take place in mid-November.

Happy viewing!