THUNDER BAY – The Perseid Meteor Shower of 2021 has reached its peak and shooting stars will be falling in the sky Aug. 12 and 13. Stargazers won’t want to miss what the National Aeronautics and Space Administration considers “The best meteor shower of the year.”
The Perseid Meteor Shower happens every year and is made out of debris that falls off of the comet Swift-Tuttle. The meteor shower lasts from July 14 to Aug. 24, and it will reach its peak on the nights of Thursday, Aug. 12, and Friday, Aug. 13. According to timeanddate.com and up to 100 meteors per hour will fly by.
Anyone interested in viewing the meteor shower won’t need any sort of special equipment to view the spectacle, the shower will be visible from anywhere where the city lights don’t cause too much light pollution.
Here’s a few tips from timeanddate.com on how to best view the meteor shower:
- Find a secluded viewing spot, away from the city lights. Once at the venue, your eyes may take 15 to 20 minutes to get used to the dark.
- Dress for the weather, and make sure you are comfortable, especially if you plan to stay out long. Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair with you—meteor watching can be a waiting game.
- Once you have found your viewing spot, lie down on the ground and look up in the direction of the radiant. Use an Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map to find the current direction of the radiant in the sky.
