The Perseid Meteor Shower Is Peaking This Weekend. Here’s How to View the Fireballs, Even in Chicago

Patty Wetli | August 9, 2024, 5:38 pm

The Perseid meteor shower. (Flickr Creative Commons)

Watch out for space debris this weekend.

The Perseid meteor shower is back for its annual sky show.

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These bits and pieces of rubble from comet Swift-Tuttle — which reliably appear every August — will be streaking across the sky at more than 130,000 miles per hour, creating streaks of light as they strike Earth’s atmosphere.

Activity is expected to peak Sunday night into Monday morning, with peak meteor counts of 50 to 75 per hour in darker viewing locations, according to NASA.

Urban dwellers might see 5 to 10 per hour due to light pollution.

Here’s how to witness the Perseids in action.

When: Start scanning the sky after 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 11, or just after midnight when the moon sets. Perseids should be abundant through dawn on Aug. 12.

Where: For optimal viewing of even the faintest Perseids, try to find as dark a place as possible. If getting out of Chicago isn't an option, look for an area with fewer porch lights and street lamps. Joe Guzman, the Chicago Astronomer, says city dwellers will be able to see the brightest meteors.

How: Look to the northeast (though meteors can appear in any direction,) lie back and give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. Plan for at least an hour of viewing, and prepare for plenty of lulls between short bursts of action. No special viewing equipment is needed — just your eyes.

Why: Because even NASA says it's the best meteor shower of the year, with the Perseids known for their "fireballs" or explosions of light and color. It's an added bonus that the Perseids are kind enough to show up during summer, when late-night meteor watching won't result in frost bite.

ICYMI: Increased activity may also be seen on Aug. 12-13, according to NASA.

Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]