Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks In Maryland: When To Watch

MARYLAND — A meteor shower rich in fireballs will peak overnight in Maryland. The shower known for its dazzling display may be slightly dimmer than usual due to the moon, experts advise.

The Perseids peak overnight from Aug. 12 to Aug. 13 and will likely produce 10 to 15 visible meteors per hour because the moon will be very close to full.

During normal years, the Perseids can be seen at a rate of 50 to 75 meteors per hour in rural areas, or those where there isn't a lot of light pollution. But in outburst years, such as in 2016, they can fly at a rate of 150 to 200 meteors an hour.

"Unfortunately, the moon will be very close to full on the night of the peak, which will wash out the fainter Perseids," NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com.

Still, don't skip this summertime favorite.

"The Perseids are rich in fireballs, so you'll still see Perseids," Cooke said. "You just won't see the show you've seen on nights when the moon has not been around."

Skies should be partly cloudy, with a low of 74 degrees overnight in the Baltimore-Washington area, with winds of about 7 mph. In western Maryland, where there's a watch party at the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center, the low will be in the mid 60s.

The Perseids radiate from the constellation Perseus, named after the hero Perseus in Greek mythology, near the famous Double Cluster. The constellation is found in the northern sky and is one of the largest. Finding the radiant point for the Perseids isn't necessary because they fly in all parts of the sky. The king of the summer meteor showers, the Perseids run from July 17 to Aug. 24.

When To Watch

Although the meteor shower is most visible after midnight, skywatchers may see a sprinkling of meteors from mid-to-late evening. A rare earthgrazer — a long, slow, colorful meteor along the horizon — is also possible during the evening. Earthsky said Perseid earthgrazers occur before midnight because the radiant point of the shower is close to the horizon.

"The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the Northern Hemisphere," according to the American Meteor Society.

The Perseids, produced by the comet Swift-Tuttle, radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can be seen from anywhere in the sky.

The best viewing times are after midnight.

Tips on how to watch:

• Set aside at least an hour to view them under dark, open sky. It'll take your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness.
• Be patient. The meteors can come in spurts, and there can be a lull between shooting stars.
• Bring along a blanket or reclining lawn chair and settle in to enjoy the show.

SEE ALSO: 2019 Guide To Meteor Showers, Lunar Eclipse, Supermoons In MD

— By Patch editors Beth Dalbey and Elizabeth Janney