What Parts of U.S. Will Enjoy Best Viewing Conditions for the Perseids

The most anticipated meteor shower of the year will peak on Tuesday night. However, a bright moon will mute the shower. Will Mother Nature lend a helping hand to stargazers with ideal weather? Read on for all of the details.

What to Expect with This Year's Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid meteor shower will peak on the night of Tuesday, August 12, and into the early morning hours on Wednesday. The Perseids are known in astronomical circles as typically the best meteor shower of the year. Not only is this show known for its sheer volume of shooting stars, but its timing during the middle of August makes it easier to get outside and enjoy the beauty.

For instance, while the Geminid meteor shower in December sometimes offers more shooting stars per hour, its timing during one of the coldest times of the year makes it more difficult to spend time outside trying to catch a glimpse. As a result, the Perseids are generally considered the better viewing experience overall.

Unfortunately for stargazers this year, a waning gibbous moon will work to dull some of the visible meteors. In a typical year, observers can expect to count up to 50 meteors each hour. Stargazers who are intentional about traveling away from light pollution could see up to 100 per hour. However, these numbers will be noticeably lower this year due to the moon's cycle.

A waning gibbous moon rising during the late evening hours will put off enough light to dim the shooting star display. Keep in mind that it was just a few nights ago that a full moon rose in the night sky. Because of the stage of the moon and the timing with the Perseid shower, you can expect to count about 10 to 20 shooting stars every hour this year.

The bulk of the activity will streak across the sky after 3 am local time. As with all astronomical events, you will have the best luck if you train your eyes up at the sky in an area away from light pollution.

If you miss out on the show during the peak night on Tuesday and into early Wednesday, the Perseids are expected to remain active through the rest of the week. However, the overall volume will decrease incrementally each night.