Eye on the Sky for Meteor Showers
Keep an eye on the night sky and you might see a meteor.
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Small fragments of cosmic debris that enter the earth’s atmosphere at high rates of speed become visible as streaks of light we call meteors.
The Perseid meteor shower peaks mid-August. Enchanted Rock SNA will host a star festival August 12-13 to celebrate. It is a recognized Dark Sky Park, and you may see up to 75 meteors an hour. The festival runs from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday. Park hours will be extended until 3 am to view the Perseids.
The Orionids is another meteoric spectacle that takes place from early October through Mid-November. In a normal year 20-25 meteors an hour streak across the sky; in a great year, as many as 50/hr.
The Leonids, created by the comet Temple-Tuttle, are visible much of November. They have offered stunning meteor storms in the past, but expect only 15 meteors an hour through 2031; that’s when the comet reappears.
The Geminids, visible from early to mid-December, are bright and intensely colored. Meteors start showing up before 10 p.m., so you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to see them.
Whether you see 1 or 100 metors, it’s always a thrill.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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