Best Perseid Meteor Shower In Years To Peak Above Los Angeles

The most spectacular Perseid meteor shower in years peaked Thursday night and Friday morning, astounding stargazers with as many as 200 “falling stars” an hour.

Every year, the Earth passes through the long trail left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, and tonight is when the Earth is expected to pass through its most dense debris. This year stargazers can expect to see nearly twice as many meteors, in part, because Jupiter passed through the trail creating an increase in debris and dust.

"This year, instead of seeing about 80 Perseids per hour, the rate could top 150 and even approach 200 meteors per hour," NASA’s Bill Cooke told Space.com.

Around Los Angeles, skies will be mostly clear until 1 a.m. when the marine layer is expected to move in, obscuring the show, according to a forecast by accuweather.com. Unfortunately, the clouds will roll in during early morning hours when the show peaks. Diehard stargazers could head inland to get a better view. Joshua Tree or Big Bear offer some of the best pollution-free places to view the meteor shower around Southern California.

The meteors, about the size of granola bits, can be seen with the naked eye. The best way to watch the meteor shower is to lie down in a wide open area and wait and watch because the debris can enter the earth’s atmosphere anywhere in the night sky creating the appearance of a falling star.

The meteor shower will be visible Saturday and into next week, although, in less spectacular fashion.
The comet Swift-Tuttle orbits the sun every 133 years and the comet was last seen from earth in 1992. But as it passes it leaves particles behind, which can be seen each August. The meteors are called Perseids because they appear to come from the constellation Perseus, according to NASA.

The particles heat up and the air heats up around them. What is described as a falling star is actually a hot particle and the hot air around it.

Experts recommend allowing 10 to 15 minutes for the eyes to get adjusted to the dark sky, going without binoculars or a telescope and watching with patience.

— Bay City News contributed to this report. Patch file photo