Where Do Meteor Showers Come From?
Meteors in a meteor shower come from comets. Comets melt a little each time their orbits take them near the sun. Bits of the comet are cast off, leaving behind a path of space dust. When the Earth’s orbit crosses this path, the particles collide with Earth. There are so many of these particles that they form a meteor shower. The Earth travels through comets’ paths on a regular schedule, which is why we can predict when meteor showers will take place. The next time you see a falling star, remember that you are actually looking at a grain of sand. You can still make a wish, though! Meteor Shower Alert: August 12 is the best time to see the Perseid Meteor Shower. At its peak, there may be 60 meteors per hour. The night before and the night after are good times, too. Moonlight will be a problem before midnight. Your best chance to see the Perseids is early in the morning, before dawn. Lay back on a lounge chair or on a blanket. If possible, face northeasterly. Get the biggest view of the s
