The year's best meteor shower is about to peak. Here’s how to get the best view.

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The year's best meteor shower is about to peak. Here’s how to get the best view.

Published: 12 Aug. 2024, 12:06 Updated: 12 Aug. 2024, 18:12

The Perseids meteor shower is observed from Cheonan Hong Dae Yong Science Museum in Cheonan, South Chungcheong, in 2017. [NEWS1]

The Perseids, considered the best meteor shower of the year, will peak on Monday night.

According to the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) and the International Meteor Organization, the shower will reach its peak at 11:30 p.m. Monday. This is the best time to view the shower.

The meteor shower is expected to have optimal viewing conditions, as the moon will set around 11 p.m., providing a dark sky for the event, according to KASI.

The Perseids — named after their radiant point in the constellation Perseus — create long streaks of light and color as they enter Earth's atmosphere. They are also known for their fireballs, which are larger explosions of light and color that can last longer than an average meteor streak, according to NASA.

Typically, the Perseids produce up to 100 colorful meteors per hour. However, light pollution from city lights and atmospheric dust may reduce visibility.

How to get the best view of the Perseids

For the best viewing experience, it is recommended to find a location with a clear, dark sky, away from city lights and free from obstructions such as mountains or tall buildings.

Observing the meteors about 30 degrees away from the radiant point of the shower, rather than directly at the radiant point, can provide a better view of the longer meteors.

KASI advises that the best approach is to observe the center of the sky with a wide view for the best experience of the meteor shower.

"The best time to watch is between Monday night and early Tuesday morning," said a KASI official. "Even if you miss the peak, you can still catch some Perseids before and after Monday, mainly around dawn."

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]