Kansans will get the chance to see one of the most ‘dependable’ meteor showers soon

The “best meteor shower of the year” will be visible from Kansas soon, and the moon’s waning crescent phase should provide better viewing opportunities than last year, according to NASA.

The Perseid meteor shower typically peaks in mid-August and is considered one of the most dependable showers each year, along with the December Geminids, according to Space.com.

Stargazers across the U.S. can expect to see one meteor every couple of minutes during the Perseid shower, NASA reports, so long as they’re in a place without too much light pollution. In brighter areas, NASA scientists expect closer to 10 visible meteors per hour.

Here’s what to know about seeing the Perseid meteor shower in the Wichita area this year.

When will the meteor shower peak in Wichita?

This year’s Perseids are expected to peak Sunday morning, according to the American Meteor Society, though it may be easier to see them in the dark Saturday evening.

The Perseids shower got its name from its “radiant” (the place the meteors appear to come from), the constellation Perseus, according to NASA. The meteors in this shower are known for their fireballs.

“Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak,” NASA says.

As of Tuesday, forecasters predict a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday night and Sunday in Wichita, though temperatures should be mild, with a low around 71 degrees Saturday night.

For the chance to potentially get a closer look at the Perseids and the rest of the night sky, you could stop by the Lake Afton Public Observatory between 9 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Friday or Saturday.