The Sky Is (Not) Falling!

By Jeremy Benson

If you notice any glowing streaks shooting across the night sky over the next couple weeks, there’s no need to worry! The sky isn’t falling – it’s just time once again for the annual Perseid Meteor Shower.

The Perseids peak every year in mid-August, as the earth passes through debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. Comets are prolific litterbugs, and they leave a trail of ice and rock behind them as they travel through their orbits around the sun. If the Earth’s orbit happens to intersect with that trail of debris, we get quite a show as those leftover chunks burn up in our atmosphere.

That’s why our annual meteor showers always occur at the same time each year. Those are the points in our orbit where we cross paths with another celestial object’s orbit. While there are several annual meteor showers throughout the year, the Perseids are one of the most consistently impressive. With up to 100 meteors per hour on a good night, and generally pleasant observing weather, the Perseids provide some of the best meteor views of the year.

To watch a meteor shower you don’t need a telescope, or any other special equipment. In fact, the best equipment available is a clear sky and comfy blanket to lie on. Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, though their tails will always point back towards the constellation Perseus – because that is the direction the earth is moving through the debris field. So the best way to observe them is to find a nice clear area with a good view of the sky, and to lie back so you can see as much of the sky as possible. The Perseids are scheduled to peak on August 12, though meteors can still be seen a week or so before and after the peak. If you’re very lucky, you might even spot a great green fireball as a larger meteor heats up the air, causing it glow at it streaks through!

So, if you’ve got a stack of wishes just waiting for some falling stars, keep your eyes on the skies, and you just may get your wish.