The Perseids Reach Their Peak: On the night of August 13, Ukrainians will be able to see up to 100 meteors per hour
On the night of August 12–13, Ukrainians will be able to observe the peak of one of the brightest meteor showers of the year—the Perseids. This year, viewing conditions will be particularly favorable, as the peak of the meteor shower coincides with a new moon, so the moonlight won’t interfere with seeing the “shooting stars.”
Meanwhile, on the afternoon of August 12, a solar eclipse will be visible in some parts of the world.
The Perseids will peak on the night of August 12–13. According to the American Meteor Society, in areas with very dark skies, observers can see between 60 and 100 meteors per hour.
This figure includes bright fireballs—particularly noticeable meteors that leave long trails of light.
However, the rate of 100 meteors per hour is an optimistic estimate for ideal conditions. Near cities, due to light pollution, the number of visible meteors will be significantly lower—realistically, you can expect a few dozen per hour.
The best time for observation is considered to be the period after midnight and before dawn. At this time, the radiant of the meteor shower—the region in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate—rises highest above the horizon.
No telescope or other special equipment is needed for observation. Simply choose a spot with the darkest possible sky, away from city lights, and give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness.
The Perseids are caused by dust and debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. The comet leaves particles in its wake as it orbits the Sun, and every year, Earth passes through this stream of debris.
When the particles enter the planet’s atmosphere, they travel at a speed of about 60 km/s and burn up, creating bright trails of light that we call “shooting stars.”
The Perseid meteor shower is active from about July 17 to August 24, but the night of the peak offers the best chance to see a large number of meteors.
For Ukrainians, the night of August 12–13 will be one of the best times of the year to observe the Perseids, especially if you head out of the city and find an open area with a dark sky.
This is according to Forbes.
In the coming days, residents of Ukraine and other countries will be able to observe one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year—the Perseids. Astronomers have already identified the period when the shower’s activity will be at its peak and viewing conditions will be optimal.
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Earlier, the head of NASA visited Baikonur for the first time in eight years.
Prior to that, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized SpaceX to resume Starship test flights following an investigation into the causes of the failure during the May launch of Starship V3.
