COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – The Perseid Meteor Shower reaches its annual peak late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, August 12-13, with conditions favorable for viewing in the Chattahoochee Valley.
The Perseids are considered the best meteor shower of the year. This year’s peak is expected to be particularly favorable, with no moonlight to interfere with visibility. The sky is forecast to be mostly clear to partly cloudy in the area.
When and where to watch
Viewing conditions are best after midnight and during the pre-dawn hours. Observers should get away from city lights for the clearest view.
A telescope or binoculars are not needed. Viewers are advised to lay down and look up, allowing eyes to scan the full sky rather than focusing on one spot. Meteors can flash across all parts of the night sky, though there may be more activity when looking northeast.
Tips for viewing
Observers should give their eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark and avoid looking at a phone during that time. Up to a couple dozen meteors per hour could be visible in rural areas under good conditions…