The peak dates for the anticipated light-producing Perseids meteor showers are here. The annual event this year is overlapping with the Delta Aquarids. The Perseids meteor shower usually commences from July 17 when the Earth surpasses the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle. These showers will, however, peak around August 12. The Delta Aquarids meteor shower started last week and will carry on up to August 13 with a peak expected from July 29-30.
Tonight, the sky fans will have an opportunity to experience some Perseids meteor shower as the event kicks off in the sky. The Delta Aquarids meteor shower normally radiates from the Aquarius collection but they are visible from any point in the sky. They produce almost 20 meteors per hour during its peak. The crescent moon will set in by midnight as they leave the dark skies for the rest of the morning hours.
The Perseids meteor shower is what majority of people are highly expecting for all year. They produce almost 60 meteors every hour. They are known for producing a huge number of raging bright meteors. The showers will overlap with some Delta Aquarids and are clearly visible during late hours of the night or early morning hours.
Also, there could be a waning gibbous moon which emerges as less than half the full moon but not more than half the lights. The effect could, however, obstruct the fainter meteors. Fortunately, the Perseids are brighter and their meteors radiate from the collection of the Perseus revealing the sky more clearly.
The annual celestial event which facets numerous tiny meteors that brighten up the night sky is on up to August 24. The peak period will be from August 11 to 13. According to NASA, the meteors visible during the Perseids are generally the smaller pieces collected from the comet Swift-Tuttle, that basically orbits the sun on every 133 years.
Another major celestial event that is highly anticipated to happen on August 21 is the total solar eclipse that will cut across the US from coast to coast. The rare occurrence will happen when the Moon blocks the Sun.
