The Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend. Here’s when & where to see it in Ohio
This weekend will be one of the best times of the year to stargaze as the Perseid meteor shower peaks. Here’s what to know and how to catch a glimpse of the annual meteor shower in Ohio.
What is the best day to see the meteor shower?
The meteor shower will be most prolific with an estimated 50 to 100 meteors an hour, Sunday (Aug. 11) night and into Monday morning. But the days surrounding the peak will also be great opportunities to catch a glimpse of a few shooting stars.
The half moon may pose a problem early Sunday, washing out all but the brightest meteors.
“Although the moon will be 50% illuminated during the peak of the Perseids this year, it will set around midnight, providing dark skies until dawn — ideal for meteor watching,” said Daisy Dobrijevic, reference editor at Space.com.
The Coast will have a waxing crescent moon all weekend, according to the local almanac.
The shower will continue nightly throughout the month with a smaller volume of meteors than this weekend’s peak, ending Sept. 1. A waning crescent moon starts Aug. 27 and may offer a second window for meteor hunting.
When is the best time?
“The best time to look for meteors is in the pre-dawn hours,” said Dobrijevic.
The shower will be at its most visible nightly from 11 p.m. CST. until dawn. The view will be best after midnight.
Where is the best place to view shooting stars?
Choose a location away from city lights and above ground level to escape the glare of the lights. A hill in the countryside would be ideal.
Ohio stargazers have only identified a couple of great places to meteor hunt in Northeast Ohio: Cleveland’s Hinckley Reservation and Observatory Park in Montville.
The Farmer’s Almanac recommends giving your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the dark skies.
Avoid any possible glare of the moon by facing away from the moon or stargazing in a moon shadow, any dark spot where the moon is blocked (by a building, a row of trees, etc.) but a portion of the sky is still visible.
The shower will be visible everywhere. But, for the best view, look up and to the northeast. In Ohio, Perseid is one of nine active meteor showers this weekend, according to Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society.
Lunsford recommended hunting for meteors outside of urban areas, where the skies will be brighter and interfere with viewing.
“Observers viewing from urban areas will see less activity as only the brighter meteors will be visible from such locations,” he said. “The actual rates seen will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness, and experience in watching meteor activity. Evening hours are reduced due to moonlight.”
Try focusing on the darkest part of the sky and remember to check your forecast to avoid cloud coverage.
