The Perseid meteor shower will peak Sunday night, giving astronomy fans one of the best shows of 2024 as they look to the skies. The shower started in July and will continue through most of August, but it will peak overnight on Sunday into Monday, NASA said. The Perseids are considered the " best meteor shower of the year" by NASA, with about 50 to 100 meteors seen per hour under ideal conditions.
What time will the Perseid meteor shower peak tonight? The best time to catch the Perseids is in the pre-dawn hours, according to NASA, but it is possible to view meteors from this shower as early as 10 p.m. NASA notes that the Moon will set right as the Perseids start to peak.
The Old Farmer's Almanac details specific moonset times for different ZIP codes across the United States. Where will the Perseid meteor shower be visible? The best view of the Perseids meteor shower will be in the Northern Hemisphere. NASA urges astronomy fans who want to check out the shower to get away from the bright lights of cities.
" Try to get to the darkest location you can," NASA wrote . "The darker it is where you are, the more meteors you will see streaking across the sky." Around 50 to 75 meteors may be seen an hour in darker locations.
What direction should you look for the meteor shower? Look up! NASA suggests lying on your back, allowing your eyes to adjust to the dark and staying off your phone. There's no need to look in any particular direction as the meteors can generally be seen all over t.