The anticipation of seeing a meteor is growing. Earth will pass through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle until Aug. 24, with the shower’s peak — when Earth passes through the densest, dustiest area — occurring on Aug. 12. That means you’ll see the most meteors in the shortest amount of time near that peak, but you can still catch some action from the famed meteor shower before or after that point.
The 2017 Perseid meteor shower will peak around 1 p.m. on Aug. 12, so the nights of Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 12-13 should see the highest rates. The meteors appear to radiate out of the constellation Perseus, from which they take their name.
The moon will be three-quarters full during the peak. Since the moon will rise late in the evening (around roughly 11 p.m.), there will be some interference from its light that will make it more difficult to see meteors.
You can see the Perseid meteor shower best in the Northern Hemisphere and down to the mid-southern latitudes, and all you need to catch the show is darkness, somewhere comfortable to sit and a bit of patience.
Below is a list of the top tips to seeing the most meteors and getting the most enjoyment out of it.
- Know the days when the shower will peak
- Know the time of the shower’s peak in your time zone
- Watch on nights around the peak
- Find out the shower’s expected number of meteors per hour
- Find a great place to watch the meteor shower
- Dress warmly
- Bring a thermos
- Bring a blanket or lawn chair
- Relax and enjoy the crisp night air- it takes about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark.
A few ideal places to view a Meteor shower in the Adirondacks are The Soccer Fields on North Street, on a lake (if you have access to a boat), high points such as Bald Mountain or Rocky Mountains – avid hikers only, please!, or anywhere that is dark.
Of course, the best way to end the evening is at Old Forge Camping Resort or Water’s Edge Inn! Reserve your cabin at the Old Forge Camping Resort at www.oldforgecamping.com. Or book your room at Water’s Edge Inn by going to www.watersedgeinn.com
