By Kristina Schroeder
The biggest meteor shower of the year will be visible in Utah County Sunday night, displaying one to two meteors, or 'shooting stars,' per minute.
The shower, commonly referred to as 'The Perseid Meteors,' is one of the three major showers visible in Utah County.
The other two are in December and January, so Sunday night is the last chance for a few months to see meteors, not to mention the only shower that doesn''t require sitting in the snow.
'Throughout the night, fiery streaks of light will stream their way across the sky,' said Patrick Wiggins, NASA solar system ambassador to Utah and North Eastern Nevada. ' usually the most watched meteor display of the year.'
People in Utah County will be able to see the meteors starting at about 9 p.m., but the bulk of the meteors won''t be visible until almost 2 or 3 a.m., when the shower is at its peak.
Viewers can anticipate clearer and brighter streaks than usual because the moon is beginning a new cycle on Sunday.
That means the only lights viewers will need to get away from are the city lights.
'It''s going to be a great show,' Bill Cooke of NASA''s Meteoroid Environment Office told Science@NASA. 'No moonlight, dark skies and plenty of meteors.'
To ensure the brightest show possible, Utahns are encouraged to get as far from the city as they can, bring a few lawn chairs, and enjoy the show.
An additional phenomenon, besides the shooting stars and lack of moon, is the fact that Mars and the Earth are moving closer and closer together, according to Science@NASA.
That results in a bright red light in the sky close to the constellation Taurus, which is right next to the location of the Perseids.
'You may find you have a hard time taking your eyes off Mars,' Science@NASA writer Tony Phillips said. 'There''s something bewitching about it. Maybe the red color, or perhaps the fact that it doesn''t twinkle like a true star. You stare at Mars, and it stares right back.'
Experts recommend that Utahns should get away from the city, face the east, and look up. Binoculars and telescopes are discouraged, as they greatly hinder the view of the entire sky.
For more information, visit utahastro.info or call Patrick Wiggins at (435) 882-1209.
Where to go to see meteor shower
-Out of Provo
-Away from lights
-Up Provo Canyon
-South by Nephi
-Across Utah Lake
-By Eagle Mountain in Lehi