Perseid meteor shower to peak tonight: Will it be visible in south-central Pennsylvania?
The Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak Wednesday night into early Thursday, but possible storms and cloudy skies may impact viewing conditions in south-central Pennsylvania.
The WGAL News 8 Storm Team is tracking partly to mostly cloudy skies overnight, with a few showers and thunderstorms possible between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 4 a.m. Thursday.
Sky watchers in the Susquehanna Valley may be able to catch the meteor shower through breaks in the clouds.
When and how to watch
The best viewing window is expected to be between midnight and the predawn hours. Under ideal conditions, the Perseids could produce about 30 to 50 meteors per hour.
There is a new moon tonight, meaning the sky will be darker and allow fainter meteors to be easier to see under clearer skies.
Viewers looking to get a glimpse of the meteors are advised to find a dark location away from streetlights and other sources of light pollution. Meteorologists recommend allowing at least 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.
Viewers may have another chance
Although the Perseids are expected to peak on Wednesday night, meteors will remain visible for several days after.
Anyone unable to see the shower because of cloudy skies during its peak may have another opportunity in the coming days.
Do you have photos or videos of the meteor shower and would like to share them with News 8? Send them to https://www.wgal.com/upload.