Perseid meteor shower to peak over Thailand tonight
Thailand could see up to 100 meteors an hour from 11pm on August 12, with moonless skies offering favourable conditions if clouds stay away
Skywatchers across Thailand could see the Perseid meteor shower from around 11pm on Wednesday (August 12) until dawn on August 13, with the shower expected to reach a maximum average rate of about 100 meteors an hour.
The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) said this year offers particularly favourable viewing conditions because moonlight will not interfere with observations.
The shower’s radiant point lies in the constellation Perseus and will rise above the north-eastern horizon at about 11pm.
The display can then be observed through the early hours if weather conditions permit.
Dark skies offer best viewing conditions
NARIT recommends viewing the shower with the naked eye from a dark location away from city lights.
Lying down and looking towards the area of the sky from which the meteors appear to radiate is considered the best way to observe the display.
The meteor shower could be visible nationwide if skies remain clear.
Thailand is currently in its rainy season, however, and heavy rain in several areas could obscure the spectacle.
Perseids return every year
The Perseid meteor shower can generally be observed between July 17 and August 24 each year, with peak activity usually occurring around August 12-13.
The phenomenon is produced by debris left along the orbit of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
When Earth passes through the debris, particles enter the atmosphere and burn up, producing brief streaks of light across the sky.
The phenomenon poses no danger to Earth.
