Perhaps nothing makes us feel smaller than witnessing a celestial event. It\u2019s a reminder that we, and the Earth, are just a tiny speck in an immense universe.\n<\/p>\n
Of all the celestial events\u2014eclipses, supermoons, novas\u2014one of the easiest to spot is a meteor shower<\/a>, which happens regularly and is often visible to the naked eye. A meteor shower is often described as a flurry of \u201cshooting stars,\u201d but it is really the burning up of cosmic debris as it enters Earth’s atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n Witnessing the natural spectacle often requires only two elements: patience and clear, dark skies. The latter element can be the tricky part. Moonlight and light pollution can wash out the night sky, making it hard to see even the brightest meteor showers.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n That\u2019s not the case with the Perseids, expected to occur from July 14 to Sept. 1, and is predicted to be the brightest meteor shower of 2026. Not only does it have the \u201cmost bright meteors\u201d according to Space.com<\/a>, but it also peaks under a new moon, meaning that the skies will be absent of moonlight.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n During the Perseids\u2019 run, over 4,500 meteors are expected, and during its peak\u2014the night of Aug. 12 and into dawn on Aug. 13\u2014between 50 and 100 meteors an hour may be visible. In the Northern Hemisphere, the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 13 are expected to be particularly spectacular.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n If you\u2019re only going to make a point to see one meteor shower in 2026, this should be it. And if you happen to be traveling to Iceland, Greenland, or Spain during the peak of Perseids you may even be able to see the celestial event during the day. This year the Perseids coincides with a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 that is visible in those countries.\n<\/p>\n