First Alert Weather In-Depth: Perseid Meteor Shower

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — I think you will agree that our weather is a little bit on the boring side today. So let’s look at something that is above the weather. This is called the Perseid Meteor Shower.

The peek is not tonight, but a better opportunity for Thursday night, Friday night, and maybe even into Saturday. But we need to figure out the conditions for good viewing.

First, we believe and expect to find mainly clear skies. Obviously, that is going to be a good ingredient. Another plus is the prediction of very low amounts of humidity in the atmosphere. That really lends itself to clarity in seeing these kinds of meteors. On the negative side, and it is actually a big negative, we are looking at a full moon that will be rising. That additional moonlight is going to reduce some of the visibility. And on a personal note, the best viewing unfortunately is going to be very late at night. Probably after two or three o’clock in the morning. So, you know it is past my bedtime.

These meteors are coming in off of the Comet Swift-Tuttle and we think it could produce at least 50 to 60 meteors per hour. How do you get the best view? You do not need binoculars or a telescope. Just get away from any kind of artificial light which would be streetlights or city lights. Look to the north-to-northeast sky on any of the next couple of nights.

Remember, when the weather is a little boring, switch to astronomy.