The most anticipated meteor shower of the year, the Perseids, will be visible across Sri Lanka tonight (11th August), starting after midnight and continuing through the pre-dawn hours.
Space Scientist Gihan Weerasekara has confirmed that this spectacular display will be clearly visible to the naked eye from flat, open areas in the northern sky, from midnight until dawn. Streams of light and color will shoot across the sky, with explosions of fireballs leaving behind even brighter streaks than the meteor trails as the Perseids pass through the atmosphere.
The Perseid meteor shower, which is visible annually from mid-July to September 1st, will peak this year between Sunday night and the early hours of Monday morning. It is expected that up to 100 meteors per hour will be visible, traveling at a speed of 133,200 miles per hour (214,365 kilometers per hour), according to reports.
The name “Perseids” comes from the point in the sky where the meteors appear to originate, known as the radiant, near the constellation Perseus. Stargazing apps can help viewers identify this starting point in the sky.
Bill Cooke, head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office, described the Perseids as the richest meteor shower of the year due to its bright fireballs, calling it “the closest thing each year to a celestial fireworks display.”
How to View the Perseids
NASA’s Cooke offers four tips for optimal viewing. No special instruments, like telescopes or binoculars, are needed; however, it is recommended to find the darkest sky possible, away from light pollution. If possible, lie flat on your back and look straight up, allowing yourself to take in as much of the sky as possible. Give your eyes 30 to 45 minutes to adjust to the dark. Cooke also advises against looking at your cell phone, as the screen can ruin your night vision and distract from the sky.
The best time to view the Perseid meteor shower will be after midnight, around 2 a.m., when the source of the meteors is at its highest point in the northeastern sky. “Mother Nature doesn’t respect people’s sleep,” Cooke joked.
–With agency inputs
