Clearer skies expected for Perseid meteor viewing Thursday and Friday
Astronomers say the Perseid meteor shower will remain visible after its peak on Aug. 13, with improved cloud cover forecast for Thursday and Friday nights.
The Perseid meteor shower, which reached its technical peak on Wednesday night, Aug. 13, is expected to continue producing visible meteors over the next two nights. Weather forecasts indicate significantly clearer skies on Thursday and likely on Friday, improving conditions compared with Wednesday's cloudier outlook.
Observers are advised to look toward the northeastern horizon after 10:00 p.m., where the constellation Perseus rises, as meteors appear to radiate from that point. To maximize visibility, experts recommend finding a dark site away from city lights and lying on one's back to allow the eyes up to 45 minutes to fully adapt to the darkness.
The Perseids occur each year when Earth passes through debris left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a stream first documented by local astronomer Lewis Swift in 1862.