The Perseid meteor swarm causes one of the most beautiful and famous starfalls of the year: many meteors arrive at this time, and in summer the weather is generally favorable. The swarm reaches the ground in mid-July each year and can be observed until the second half of August.
The peak usually falls in mid-August, the maximum this time being between 11 and 13.
Meteor showers occur when our planet passes through an asteroid or comet debris strip. Smaller or larger particles that enter the atmosphere heat up and then burn up, producing a photovoltaic phenomenon. The Perseids consist of the debris of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
You don’t have to worry about moonlight this year, but clouds can distract the view. Under the right conditions, we can see up to 60 bright stars per hour, albeit in more light-polluted areas, so we can expect far fewer meteors in major cities.
Perseids seem to come from the constellation Perseus, but they can appear anywhere, and in many cases they come in groups. To have a really good experience, it is important to stay away from light pollution. The human eye takes approximately 20 minutes to get used to the darkness, but it is important that you do not even look at the phone while observing, as the light can blind the eye.
