Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Aug. 12, 13

Stargazers are in for a treat on the evening of August 12 and 13 not only as the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak but a rare configuration of Venus, Mars and Saturn will cluster in the evening sky. The meteor shower is visible across the Northern Hemisphere tonight through pre-dawn hours on Friday, weather permitting. The latest forecasts for Mineola call for scattered thunderstorms and showers through the evening hours on Thursday, with Friday night's skies as clear.

Astronomers are expecting the best, and skywatchers around the globe are seeing encouraging, sometimes explosive signs. Several of the Perseids' characteristic fireballs and exploding meteors, called bolides, have been spotted.

"On Saturday night, one bolide lit up the field," said Steve Lieber of the Astronomical Society of Long Island. "It looked like a flash going off. I saw the vapor trail for 15 to 20 seconds after that."

An annual late summer event, the Perseids are debris from the tail of the comet Swift-Tuttle, that was created over several centuries during the comet's orbit of the sun. Every August, Earth passes through these debris fields, which become more spread out over time. Most meteors are the size of a small grain of sand, with a few as large as a pea. These cosmic specks vaporize as they enter Earth's atmosphere, creating fiery trails across the night sky visible from the ground as friction against the atmosphere builds up. Earth is moving through the densest part of the debris field Thursday night.

Some of the rarest Perseids, called "earthgrazers," will be visible on the Northeast horizon between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time. They gain their name because they approach from the horizon and skim along the atmosphere.

Astronomers are predicting 80 meteors per hour with short burst expected in 15 minute intervals. For those in urban areas, the amount of visible meteors would be far less because of light pollution. Some of the best tips for watching the celestial show are to bring a blanket or loungechair so one can lay back and look up at the sky comfortably and avoid neck strain. A period of at least 15 minutes should also be given for one's eyes to fully adjust to the darkness.