JACKSON, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Perseid meteor shower has kicked off in Michigan skies, with the best chance to spot meteors coming late the night of August 12 and into August 13. This will be just a few days before the August 16 new moon, giving astronomers a dark sky with only 10% moon illumination.
The Perseids started this year on July 14 and are expected to end in late August. They are known for producing fireballs, which can last longer and appear brighter than ordinary meteors. Under peak observing conditions, stargazers may be able to spot up to 100 meteors per hour, with the pre-dawn hours being the optimal time.
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The Perseid meteors are caused by Earth passing through the debris of ice and rock left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle’s journey around the sun. When scraps of the comet collide with Earth’s atmosphere, they disintegrate to create fiery and colorful streaks across the sky.
Meteor showers can be enjoyed without any special equipment, such as binoculars or telescopes. However, they’re best under extremely dark skies, far from streetlights, roadways, and other sources of light pollution. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources provides a list of dark sky preserves that cover over 15,000 square miles in Michigan’s upper peninsula.
The Perseid meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, which can be identified in the northern sky next to Andromeda.
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