NASA tells Americans to flee cities during Perseid meteor shower this weekend

The biggest and most beautiful meteor shower of 2024 is just around the corner, but NASA officials have warned Americans that they’ll need to leave the city to get a good view of the meteor shower.

The Perseid meteor shower, which peaks at midnight on Sunday and lasts through Monday morning, is expected to produce between 1,000 and 15,000 hours of light. 50 and 75 shooting stars per hour.

But the US space agency warned that light pollution could seriously disrupt the cosmic spectacle if you live in an urban area.

Stargazers can head outside between midnight and 5:30 a.m. to view the meteors, which will appear in the northeastern sky.

This peak period occurs when there is virtually no moon and the sky is exceptionally dark, creating a perfect backdrop for dozens of shooting stars.

“Try to go to the darkest place you can find. The darker it is where you are, the more meteors you will see streaking across the sky,” NASA wrote in a press release.

The Perseid meteor shower began on July 14 and will last until September 1. The best viewing, however, is this weekend.

This event occurs every year, when Earth plows through the debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle during its journey through the inner solar system.

As the comet speeds through the sky at a maximum speed of 42.5 kilometers per second, it leaves a trail of dust and debris in its wake.

The Earth’s Orbit crosses the orbit of Swift-Tuttle, causing the comet’s dust and debris to burn up in our atmosphere and create the Perseid meteor shower.

NASA has nicknamed the meteor shower the “fireball champion” of the annual meteor shower because of the record number of super-bright meteors seen.

It’s a show you won’t want to miss. Luckily, NASA has some expert advice for anyone hoping to spot the Perseids this weekend.

First, you want to find a spot outside of the city with little light pollution and an unobstructed view of the sky.

To find the meteor shower, viewers should look for the constellation Perseus, the 24th largest constellation in the sky.

The constellation is located in the northern part of the night sky.

Try searching for a International Dark Sky Park near you or at a consultation center light pollution map to find the best spot.

Check the local weather forecast before you go to make sure clouds or rain won’t block your view. Be sure to pack warm clothing, bug spray, and anything else you’ll need to stay comfortable.

Comets send out trails of dust and debris as they streak across the sky. The debris trail of the Swift Tuttle comet is what causes the Perseid meteor shower.

Shooting stars of the Perseid meteor shower.

Once you are in a place where you cannot see the starry sky, you need to know when and where to look at the stars.

The meteors are brightest when the night sky is darkest, that is, during the hours just before sunrise, after the moon sets, and before the sun rises.

Wherever you are in North America, the moon sets around midnight.

To spot the Perseids, you can look anywhere in the night sky. They appear to come from the northeast, where the constellation Perseus (their namesake) rises after sunset.

While you are watching, try not to look at your phone or any other source of white light. This will disrupt your night vision and make it difficult to see the meteors.

You also shouldn’t use a telescope or binoculars to look for the Perseids. These magnifying instruments make it much harder to see shooting stars.

If you miss the peak of the meteor shower, don’t worry. The Perseids will be visible until the end of August.

But if you go and see them this weekend, you can expect a spectacular sight.