Perseid meteor shower visible in the Northwest this weekend

Perseid meteor shower visible in the Northwest this weekend

Perseid meteor shower visible in the Northwest this weekend

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by Jordan Gray

KREM.com

Posted on August 11, 2012 at 3:39 PM

Updated Sunday, Aug 12 at 8:32 AM

You have a great chance to catch a show in the sky this weekend.
  
The annual Perseid meteor shower will be visible tonight through Monday morning.
  
Up to 100 meteors will streak across the sky each hour.

According to the University of Washington Astronomy Department, The Perseid Meteor Shower occurs each August as the Earth, following its normal orbit around the Sun, intersects the orbit of dust particles left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle.

These dust particles -- all of them tiny specks -- become extremely hot as they hit the Earth's upper atmosphere at speed of 20-50 miles per second. The hot particle generates a streak of light before the particle is obliterated.

UW  says the best viewing hours are between 2 and 4 a.m., when the Earth's face is facing into the grain/pebble swarm. The expected peak of the shower is August 12-13.

Resources

UW meteor shower viewing tips

Seattle Astronomical Society

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