今年本來計劃再訪深圳西涌觀看英仙座流星雨。這個星期華南受颱風影響，天氣酷熱，能見度甚低，出發前兩天決定取消觀星。
2026 Perseid Meteor Shower
The shower is active from July 7th through August 24th, peaking the night of August 12-13. The broad maximum occurs between around 5 p.m. August 12th and 5 a.m. August 13th. Half-maximum, when half the maximum number may be seen, occurs 1-2 days on either side of the peak.
At its peak, up to 100 meteors per hour might be seen under the darkest of skies. But few of us have that option due to ubiquitous light-pollution. From outer-suburban locations, one-half to one-third that number is more realistic. The most I've seen in an hour from my borderline rural sky is around 40. Over time I've learned meteor showers are more about the experience than a number. That said, seeing a lot of Perseids never hurt anyone.
Perseids are also famed for their frequent fireballs. A study by the Meteoroid Environment Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) tallied 568 Perseid fireballs from 2008 to 2013, nearly 150 more than the second-place Geminids. In 2018, 2020, and 2021, observers reported unexpected upticks in meteor counts 0.7 to 1.5 days after maximum, according to the International Meteor Organization. I witnessed just such a bump on August 14, 2021, the day after the peak. Consider adding an extra morning of shower-watching in case it happens again this year.
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