Perseids meteor shower reaches peak, lighting up night skies

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Look up this week and you’re likely to catch Mother Nature’s light show. The highly anticipated Perseids meteor shower is currently active — reaching its peak just Tuesday night. The Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland hosted a star party overnight.

It’s one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year. The Perseids light up the night skies from mid-July to late August.

On Tuesday night, dozens of people came out to the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, hoping to catch a glimpse of the display at its peak.

But even with the foggy conditions, visitors still had the chance to learn about the spectacular meteor shower unfolding above them.

Gerald McKeegan with the Chabot Space and Science Center explains, what many know as shooting stars, are actually fragments of a comet entering our atmosphere.

Throughout the night, visitors lined up to peer through the iconic telescopes at Chabot. This historic telescope from 1883 was donated by the space center’s founder, Anthony Chabot.

Nearly 150 years later, it’s being used not only for research but to teach people about the wonders of space. This telescope is free and open to the public every week. 

Telescopes are great for viewing planets. However, when it comes to shooting stars, experts say nothing beats the naked eye.

If you’d like to catch a glimpse of the Perseids meteor shower, it’s not too late. The annual event peaked on Tuesday and will last until Aug. 23. Under the right conditions, you might just be able to spot a shooting star

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