Yeah, why not pay attention to some flashy meteors while the White House hopefuls duke it out? NASA and assorted “Perseid pundits” report that thanks to a new moon, this week’s Perseid meteor shower is expected to be one of the best in years. NASA Television will be there, offering a live broadcast, hosted by some true meteor hotshots from the Meteoroid Environment Office, the august American Meteor Society — founded in 1911 — and other learned spots.
The four-hour broadcast begins at 10 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. Find it here.
And find a comprehensive — but non-annoying — viewing guide from the aforementioned meteor society look here.
Indeed, NASA and the scientific community hope Earthlings will get outside and see things for themselves, weather permitting.
“The best opportunity to see the Perseid meteor shower is during the dark, pre-dawn hours of Aug. 13. The Perseids streak across the sky from many directions, with theoretical rates as high as 100 per hour. The last time the Perseids peak coincided with a new moon was in 2007, making this one of the best potential viewings in years,” NASA advises in its summary.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.