When to see Perseid meteor shower peak in California this week

Gather round and gaze up; the annual Perseid meteor shower peaks this week.The beloved sky show will reach its zenith from August 12 to 13, giving Californians a prime window to see 50 to 100 shooting stars per hour.  This year’s conditions are especially favorable as the peak coincides with a New Moon, meaning skies will be at their darkest. While the meteor shower can be seen across the US, according to NASA, “visibility should be ideal” for many parts of California. A meteor shower occurs when the Earth’s orbit intersects with the cloud of debris left by an asteroid or comet.When we collide with that cloud, these glorious remnants, AKA space trash, burn and fall due to the conditions of atmospheric entry.Their immolation creates the glowing trails and fireballs that call the eye up and the mind to awe.The Perseids are born from the debris field of the Swift-Tuttle comet, which Earth orbits through every August.Observations of the Perseids date back more than 2,000 years, making them one of the oldest recorded meteor showers.

Named for the constellation Perseus, a tribute to the Gorgon-slaying Greek hero, the Perseids are among the most reliably active and visible meteor showers and are known for producing fireballs, bright meteors that paint the sky with a glowing trail.Officials said the fireballs provide large explosions of light and color that last longer than the average meteor streak, which is due to them “forming from larger particles of cometary material.”“With swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long ‘wakes’ of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth’s atmosphere,” NASA said.

California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story The showers are associated with Perseus because the radiant, or the...