The annual Perseids meteor shower will reach its peak on Saturday, Aug. 13, with as many as 150 meteors an hour under clear skies, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its August astronomical diary.
PAGASA said the Perseids can be viewed from July 17 to Aug. 24.
Its peak activity will happen once Perseus, the shower’s radiant, rises in the northeastern sky around midnight until before sunrise, it said.
“The number of visible meteors increases as the radiant ascends to its highest point in the sky, which will be after dawn. Thus, Perseids is likely best observed shortly before sunrise,” PAGASA pointed out.
However, it noted that the waning gibbous moon “may cause significant interference” throughout the night.
“Meteor showers are observable through the naked eye, and no special equipment such as telescopes or binoculars is needed,” PAGASA said.
“Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from the city lights under clear and moonless sky conditions,” it added.
Another meteor shower observable this month is the κ-Cygnids.
PAGASA said the meteor shower is active from Aug. 3 to 25, with peak activity on 18 August.
“During its peak, κ-Cygnids is expected to produce three meteors per hour. The shower’s radiant, Draco, is already observable after sunset until it sets on the horizon at around 5 a.m.,” PAGASA said.
“κ-Cygnids is best observed around 9 p.m., when the radiant is at its highest position in the sky,” it added.