Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight in Finland

The peak of the Perseid meteor shower is expected tonight, with the best visibility occurring between August 12 and 13. According to the astronomical association Ursa, observers can potentially witness up to 60 meteors per hour during this peak period.

This year, lunar phases will not interfere, as the Moon will set below the horizon in Finland earlier in the evening, allowing for optimal meteor viewing conditions. Ursa highlights, however, that due to the brightness of northern nights, meteors will mainly be visible south of Oulu.

Meteorologist Laura Tuomola from Yle also notes favorable weather for viewing, stating that the skies in Finland will clear as the night progresses, though some cloud cover may occur in central areas during the early hours.

In addition to the meteors, Ursa mentions that viewers might also catch glimpses of auroras. Regular meteor showers like the Perseids are formed from debris and dust from comet nuclei, resulting from their orbits around the Sun. The Perseids originate from the comet 109/P Swift-Tuttle, which completes an orbit every 133 years. The phenomenon occurs annually at the same time because Earth’s path in space passes near the comet’s debris trail.

For the best visibility, observers should look in the direction of the constellation Perseus, which is positioned northeast and east throughout the night. The constellation reaches its highest point in the sky during the early morning hours, increasing the chances of spotting meteors. Seek out stellar observation locations using Ursa’s map of “One Thousand Star Places.”

If you manage to capture any meteors in photographs, a submission form is available for sharing your images. More information is also provided about the use of audience images on the Yle website.