The best meteor shower of the summer is happening soon: How to see it in Kansas City
The summer’s best shooting stars are coming out of hiding this week, and they’ll be visible from the clearest skies in the Kansas City area.
The Perseid meteor shower usually peaks in mid-August and is considered one of the most dependable showers each year, along with the December Geminids, according to Space.com.
The meteor shower should reach its peak during the overnight hours of late Sunday night into early Monday morning, Space.com says.
The Perseids are widely recognized as the Northern Hemisphere’s best meteor shower of the year. And it makes for popular viewing since it happens in the summer when nights are warm.
The meteor shower can produce between 50 and 100 visible meteors per hour, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Those meteors may also produce fireballs, which you may see as bright explosions.
“Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak,” NASA wrote online. “This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger parts of cometary material.”
How can I see the Perseid meteor showers?
If you want to see the Perseid meteor showers, NASA says you just need to find a spot outside the city and have a little bit of patience.
“The amount of skyglow from light pollution diminishes as you venture farther outward from a population center,” NASA says on its website. “So heading outward from town, at least 20 to 30 miles from the city limits, is key.”
The sky should be clear at this time, according to the Astronomical Society of Kansas City’s chart. A chart by ClearDarkSky.com shows the same for Kansas.
You can use a light pollution map to find a place near Kansas City to stargaze. The moon will be 44% full at this time, the American Meteor Society says. The less full the moon is, the easier it is the see the showers.
While the moon is almost half-full, NASA says it will set right as the Perseids begin to peak, so it will not impact your viewing experience.
NASA provides these tips for seeing the Perseid meteor shower:
- Check the weather forecast for that night. You may need to check two or three areas for predictions on fog, clouds, and temperature.
- Stay warm and comfortable outside. You will be out for a good long while and will want to lie flat on your back to soak up as much of the sky as possible. NASA recommends that you bring a blanket, jacket, hat, a warm drink and water to stay cozy. If you are in a buggy area, you will want to apply some bug spray to avoid irritating bites.
- Bring friends and family. Extra people provide a bonus since there are more eyes on the sky, and groups can spot more meteors than single individuals and help each other find “hot spots” in the sky.
Find a meteor shower party. Find a gathering in a local park or an event hosted by a local astronomy club. Find a Perseids party by searching the Night Sky Network for clubs near you, or by searching for events near you.
If you’re looking for a group to watch the meteor showers with, the Astronomical Club of Kansas City is hosting a public gathering Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Powell Observatory, 26500 Melrose St. in Louisburg, Kansas. After the feature presentation, the club says visitors can look through the star of the show, The Ruisinger, which is the largest telescope in the area.
While the event isn’t on the peak of the meteor shower, the club expects to see a good number of shooting stars Saturday night.
Access is free, but the club suggests donations of $5-10 for non-members.
