Although most of us continue to be stuck at home due to the ongoing pandemic, you can at least look forward to something this Thursday by watching the Perseids meteor shower which will be hitting its peak on Thursday night 9pm until early morning Friday.
When To Watch Perseids Meteor Shower
In a Facebook post by the National Planetarium, it’s said that Malaysians will have a chance to observe this phenomenon at night throughout the July 17 to August 24 period. However, it will hit its peak with a rate of 110 meteors per hour, or almost two meteors per minute on Thursday, August 12, 2021, from 9pm until early morning August 13, 2021.
Do note that those who wish to gaze at this meteor shower would have to go to a dark place that is far from light pollution. On the other hand, for those that live in cities and might miss out on the meteor shower, they can still catch it through a live-stream hosted by Dark Sky Malaysia.
How To Watch The Perseids Meteor Shower
The live stream will start at 8pm on August 12 on both Dark Sky Malaysia’s Facebook page and Youtube channel, as well as on Karnival Sains Sabah’s Facebook page. Dark Sky Malaysia said an e-certificate would be provided to those who follow its live stream of the meteor shower.
Apart from giving the public a chance to observe the skies together, Dark Sky Malaysia said further information about the Perseids meteor shower would be provided, with a photography contest and quiz to also be held during the live stream.
US space agency Nasa explains that the Perseids are actually fragments or debris of the comet Swift-Tuttle that show up as meteors in the sky when our planet passes near the comet’s orbit path annually. Each orbit of the comet Swift-Tuttle around the sun takes up 133 years.
Nasa advises those who wish to view the meteor shower to avoid bright lights as much as possible including phones and to give their eyes up to half an hour if possible to adjust to the dark. It said the Perseids will appear as quick and small streaks of light.
- Check out Gordon Ramsay’s first-ever restaurant in Malaysia opening this year.
- Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram for more updates and the latest happenings around Malaysia!
Feature Photo by Raman deep from Pexels
