KUALA LUMPUR — The peak of the Perseid meteor shower, also known as the Perseids, will be visible today in our night skies until early tomorrow morning.
According to the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA), the phenomenon can be seen at an average of 100 meteors per hour, in dark skies and good weather.
“The appearance of the meteor shower will be good because the waning Moon (5.4%) which will rise at around 5.25 am does not affect the appearance of the Perseid meteor shower,” read the statement.
The meteor shower, which happens between mid-July and late August, is one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year. Named after the constellation Perseus, the shower occurs every year as the Earth orbits the sun and crosses space debris left by the Comet Swift-Tuttle.
The Comet Swift-Tuttle is estimated to have a nucleus that is 26 km in diameter and takes 133 years to complete its orbit.
The last time the comet passed close to Earth was in 1992 and it is expected to come close to the Earth again in 2126.
According to MYSA, when the comet orbits close to the sun, the debris left behind by the comet goes through the sublimation process and will eventually disperse and form a path filled with the remnants of the comet, which will eventually enter the Earth’s atmosphere and burn to form a long glowing strip.
To observe the Perseids, stargazers should take several steps including being in a safe open area with a dark environment and appropriate sky conditions which is with no light interference and should ensure the view is not obstructed by tall buildings, trees or houses. — August 13, 2023