Perseid meteor shower set to begin Thursday: Here’s how to view in NC

RALEIGH, N.C. (NewsNation) — The Perseid meteor shower is almost here, offering skywatchers a view of what is considered the best meteor shower of the year.

The shower is expected to begin on July 17 and last until at least August 23, with the peak expected to occur from August 12 to 13.

The Perseids are known for fireballs that last longer than an average meteor and for leaving long wakes of color and light as they move through the atmosphere.

Meteor showers are caused by Earth passing through an area of space debris left behind by a comet. The debris disintegrates in Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in colorful streaks of light.

The Perseids are created by debris left from the Swift-Tuttle comet, which was last in the inner solar system in 1992. The comet takes 133 years to orbit the sun, and astronomers first discovered it was the source of the Perseids in 1865.

The meteors appear to come from the constellation Perseus, hence the name, but they don’t actually originate there.

With 50-100 meteors per hour, the Perseids offer a dramatic show conveniently timed to warm, summer nights that make for comfortable viewing.

The best time to see the Perseids is early in the morning before dawn, according to NASA, though they can sometimes be seen as early as 10 p.m.

Unfortunately for hopeful meteor watchers, the moon will be 84% full at the peak, so moonlight from the coinciding full moon will make it harder to see the meteors.

To get the best view, head to a place with minimal light pollution and look toward the constellation Perseus to see the show. Also, give eyes time to adapt to the dark, which experts say takes about 30 minutes.

According to Time and Date AS, a team of science journalists and experts, the best chance to see the Perseids in North Carolina will be August 12 and 13. The meteor shower is projected to shoot through the state at 100 meteors per hour. There is a chance to see meteors as early as 8 p.m. on those nights.

If you are traveling out of the state, especially further north, chances increase in seeing the Perseids between July 18 and 28 when moonlight is minimal. The only downside is that there could be fewer meteors shooting through the sky.