Some of us can’t find a genie in a bottle, so we’ll have to look to the night sky for our wishes to be granted!
The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to light up the night sky, peaking this weekend August 11-12. What you’ll have to do is find an open sky, hope the clouds clear, get your wish ready and then spot that shooting star!
Each summer the earth passes through the Swift-Tuttle comet and the result is the most popular and often the best meteor shower of the year, the Perseid meteor shower. Tiny bits of comet debris the size of pebbles and marbles race at speeds of 37 miles per second, so wish quickly!
The particles will burn at temperatures of several thousand degrees, glowing as they streak across the night sky.
Wait, there’s more! The moon is ‘waning’ to a new phase. That means we are seeing less and less of the moon’s reflection. The result is less light pollution and a darker sky. Thus, we’ll have a good chance at seeing dozens of meteors per hour (at peak).
Tips for best viewing
- Get away from city lights
- Allow 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness
- Look to the northeastern sky
- Bring a friend or family member alongside for safety
- Enjoy the show!
For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier with contribution from Meteorologist Matt Monroe