Malaysia is expected to witness the peak of the Perseid meteor shower from midnight tonight into the early hours of August 13, with as many as 50 to 100 meteors potentially visible per hour.
According to information published on the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) website, the Perseid meteor shower is active from July 17 to August 24, with its peak expected from midnight on August 13 until dawn.
Ideal conditions for stargazing
Viewing conditions are expected to be favourable this year as there will be little to no moonlight interference.
Those hoping to catch the meteor shower do not need a telescope. The meteors can be observed with the naked eye, provided viewers are in a dark area away from light pollution.
The Perseid meteor shower gets its name from the constellation Perseus, where the meteors appear to originate.
The phenomenon occurs when Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. As the comet travels around the Sun, heat causes material on its surface to vaporise and release dust and debris along its orbital path.
When these particles enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds, they burn up and produce the bright streaks of light commonly known as shooting stars.
Comet Swift-Tuttle has a core measuring about 26 kilometres in diameter and takes approximately 133 years to complete one orbit around the Sun.
The comet last made a close approach to Earth in 1992 and is expected to pass close to Earth again in 2126.
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