Meteors result from particles of dust causing the atmosphere to glow as the particles enter the upper atmosphere of the Earth.  The Perseid Meteors, or “Perseids,” are associated with Comet Swift-Tuttle.  In 1866 Giovanni V. Schiaparelli, an Italian astronomer more widely known for discovering the “canals” on Mars, determined that the path of the particles resulting in the Perseids was identical with the orbit of Comet Swift-Tuttle which had been observed in 1862.  This discovery was confirmation of a then innovative theory that meteor showers result from the debris of comets, a theory now widely accepted in astronomical circles.  Since the Earth encounters this debris at the same point in space each time it makes its annual revolution around the Sun, we observe the Perseids close to the same date each year, around August 12. 

In 2008 the Perseids are predicted to reach a peak of 60 to 90 meteors per hour at 7 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, August 12.  The Perseid Meteor Shower is one of the more reliable showers and lasts for a couple of days on either side of August 12.  Thus, the morning of August 12 should be best for observing Perseids this year but a few Perseids can be spotted before or after this date.  We have a waxing gibbous moon during this time the light of which will interfere with observations of the fainter meteors until after moonset.  That will be about 2:30 a.m. on the 12th and about an hour later each following morning.

 The Perseids are best observed between about 11 p.m. and dawn from a clear, dark location with a good horizon.  Look to the northeast to find the meteors appearing to radiate out of the constellation of Perseus the hero.  Binoculars or telescopes are not needed to observe meteor showers.

About PARI
PARI is a not-for-profit foundation established in 1998.  Located in the Pisgah Forest southwest of Asheville, NC, PARI offers educational programs at all levels, from K-12 through post-graduate research.  The institute is affiliated with the 16-campus University of North Carolina system through PARSEC, a UNC Center hosted at PARI, and is a member of the NC Grassroots Museum Collaborative.  For more information about PARI and its programs, visit www.pari.edu.