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Hello all,

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This Saturday night will be the peak night of the famous Perseids meteor shower, one of the year's best!? Even better is that the Moon will not present any problems this year!? The broad traditional annual maximum is predicted on August 12/13, between 07h UT and 14h UT (which translates to between 3am and 10am EDT).? Under very dark skies and ideal viewing circumstances, the rates could surpass one meteor per minute during the early morning hours of the 13th.? In areas affected by light pollution, or obstructions (such as buildings or trees) the rates will be lower.? These meteors are known for producing good numbers of colourful meteors, and fireballs.? The Perseids can be enjoyed from nightfall onwards, although rates generally increase during the hours after midnight.

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Here's a good article to learn more...

This year's shower might have a couple of additional surprises:

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1) ?A weak filament is expected to cross Earth on August 13, around 03h UT (11pm EDT), according to ?meteor dynamicist Peter Jenniskens. ?(A filament is thought to be an accumulation of meteoroids in a mean-motion resonance.)

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2) ?There is also the possibility of enhanced activity on the following night Sunday August 13/14, between 01h UT and 0245h UT (between 9pm and 10:45pm EDT). Meteor dynamicist Jeremie Vaubaillon predicts that the Earth will encounter a very old trail of dust released in 68 BC.? It is definitively worth monitoring although a prediction of the activity level is essentially impossible.? Back on the morning of August 14 2021, I was fortunate to observe an unexpected strong outburst with a ZHR of more than 100 above the basic level, about a day and a half after the nodal maximum!? So if your skies are clear Saturday and/or Sunday night, give the Perseids a try! :)

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Clear skies!

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- Pierre