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IN THE MEDIA: George Mason astronomer explains the Perseid meteor shower

The annual Perseid meteor shower is giving stargazers across Northern Virginia a chance to catch one of the year’s most anticipated celestial displays.

In a recent Prince William Times article, Peter Plavchan, professor of physics and astronomy at George Mason University and outgoing executive director of the Mason Space Exploration Center, explains what causes the meteor shower and how viewers can get the best look.

The Perseids occur as Earth passes through a trail of dust and rock left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet. As those particles enter Earth’s atmosphere, they vaporize, creating the streaks of light commonly known as shooting stars.

Under ideal conditions, viewers could see as many as 100 meteors per hour. Plavchan recommends finding a dark location away from light pollution and allowing time for your eyes to adjust to the night sky.

He also notes that meteors can appear in different colors depending on the elements contained in the debris as it vaporizes.

Photo: Perseid meteors in Utah in 2018. 

Read more in the Prince William Times.

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