Perseid Meteor Shower

Perseid Meteor Shower

August 10/11, 11/12, and 12/13, 2012

The Perseids are typically fast and bright meteors radiating from a point in the constellation Perseus the Hero.  Considered by many to be the year’s best shower, there are often 50 or more meteors per hour in a dark sky.  The most meteors will occur between midnight and dawn with little interference from the waning crescent moon.  At this time, the moon will also be near the bright planets Venus and Jupiter in the eastern predawn sky.

Perseus was the famous Greek hero who killed the gorgon Medusa, rescued a chained Andromeda from Poseidon’s sea-beast, the Kraken, and rode a winged steed named Pegasus.