In case you're wondering, the Perseid meteor shower will be visible on the night of Monday, August 13, through the morning of Tuesday, August 14 and should come close to halt by August 22, 2012.
On August 15, the Perseids are expected to be visible at about ten meteors per hour and by August 22, the frequency should drop to one per hour or so according to Meteor Showers Online.
The event drew great attention from not only fanatical sky gazers but also the general public as well that flocked the open fields this past weekend to catch a glimpse of what basically is bits of dust and ice slamming unto the Earth's atmosphere and as a result emitting trails of light.
Various countries around the world have been witnessing this spectacle and have been sharing their observations online via YouTube uploads.
The advantages of observing a meteor shower compared to, say, solar eclipses falls in the necessary equipment to view the night lights show. The view the lights, one simply needs a blanket to spread across the tract of land where he/she will lay and patience, compared to eye filters/glasses one needs to view the quickly fleeting solar eclipse.
Meteor Frequency Reduced on Sunday
On Saturday, the frequency of the meteors was found at about 60 to 100 meteors per hour. That number reduced to 40 per hour on Sunday and is expected to further reduce on Monday.
The event became so popular on the internet that NASA not only provided live streaming of the event but also launched an app for the purpose of keeping track of the shower and reporting the sightings.
Where Viewing is Possible
Residents from Boston to New York City, from Miami to Houston, to Chicago, to Denver and San Francisco (all across the U.S.) should be able to enjoy the phenomenon if the weather permits it.
People living in metropolitan areas are advised to drive to the suburbs since the city's pollution and smog trigger low visibility of the skies.
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.
The Perseid meteor shower takes place annually in late July and early August and has been observed by humans for over 2,000 years.
As Earth comes into contact with the stream pr cloud, the debris slams into the planet's atmosphere at about 130,000 miles per hour. The speed of the impact is so fast that the debris burns, creating the visible Perseid meteor shower.
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