Perseid meteor shower to light up skies early this week

On Monday night into Tuesday, the sky will be lit up by falling stars. Astronomers are expecting the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. If the weather permits, you could see up to 100 meteors per hour.

"Falling stars," otherwise known as meteors, are light phenomena that occur when a rocky fragment from space, known as a meteoroid, enters Earth’s atmosphere. Most burn up in the atmosphere, and only the largest fragments reach the ground, becoming meteorites.

This phenomenon occurs throughout the year, but one of the most spectacular events is the Perseid meteor shower, active from July 17 to August 24, with its peak on the night of August 12 to August 13. According to the American Astronomical Society, this year's peak activity is expected on August 12, around 10 AM Eastern Time.

The Perseids have been observed since ancient times and are known for their speed of about 60 kilometres per second. They typically come in groups of 6-15 meteors within 2-3 minutes. Under ideal conditions, you can theoretically see up to 100 meteors per hour.

The source of the Perseids is the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which approaches Earth roughly every 133 years – it was discovered in 1862.

No tools like binoculars or telescopes are required to observe the meteor shower; all you need is a good view of the sky. The darker the surroundings, the more meteors you will see. So, if you can't get out of the city, try to find an area where streetlights do not shine in your eyes.