In case you're wondering, the Perseid meteor shower will be visible on the night of Sunday, August 12 through the first hours of Monday, August 13. The live streaming by NASA will be provided if weather permits it (below).
People from various countries of the world including Spain, Hungary and other European countries as well as the U.S. and Canada have had the opportunity to witness the light show and may have been drawn to it due to the minimal requirements to witness it.
No Filters Needed to Observe
Unlike observing a solar eclipse through special filters during daylight hours, the meteor show requires only one's bare eyes to contemplate.
By simply laying on the ground, looking to the sky and waiting a couple of minutes to get one's eyes adjusted to the darkness, people have the opportunity to enjoy light displays up in the expanse.
These displays come in 'shooting stars' form that vary in brightness intensity and may occur several dozens of times per hour.
Meteor Frequency Reduced on Sunday
On Sunday, the frequency of the meteors will reduce to 40 per hour said NASA in an update earlier today.
NASA will provide live streaming of the skies of Huntsville, Alabama which is home to its Marshall Space Flight Center.
Where Viewing is Possible
Residents from New York City to Miami, to Chicago, to Denver and San Francisco (all across the U.S.) should be able to observe the phenomenon if the weather permits it.
The disadvantage of big metropolitan areas however lies in the city's pollution adding to low visibility of the skies. The probability of people living in Los Angeles viewing it, for example, is quite low due to the existing smog.
Viewing Schedule and Peak Times
According to NASA's post, the shower should be visible after 10 p.m. local time with the best times to view the shower falling between midnight until dawn, local time.
Peak times for the shower on Sunday night fall between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Live Online Streaming
NASA will be providing a viewing weather permitting. Please tune back at approximately 10 p.m. EDT to check.
Video of Perseid Meteor Shower on August 11, 2012
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
