The Sky’s Putting on a Show
If someone told you fireballs would be flying across the sky this month, you might assume Tampa Electric raised rates again. But no, this is actually good news.
The Perseid meteor shower is back, and it’s putting on what many call the best sky show of the year. From now through August 23, you’ve got a front-row seat to nature’s fireworks. The real highlight? August 12–13, when the shower peaks with up to 100 meteors per hour.
So, what exactly are we looking at?
Every summer, Earth drifts through a cosmic trail of debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, a 16-mile-wide hunk of icy rock that last passed through our neighborhood in 1992. As we slam into the comet’s leftovers at tens of thousands of miles per hour, the tiny particles hit our atmosphere and disintegrate, lighting up the sky with brilliant streaks of light. Some are fast blips, others blaze like fireballs with colorful trails that linger. It’s like Mother Nature got her hands on a glitter cannon.
Best time to watch?
Early mornings before sunrise are your best shot. But if you’re not the wake-up-at-4am type, you can still spot a few after 10 p.m. Just know the later (or technically earlier) you stay up, the better the show.
This year, though, there’s a catch: the moon will be 84% full during the peak. Which means it might steal the spotlight—literally. So if you’re serious about spotting some meteors, your best bet may be July 18–28, when the moon is less pushy and the skies are darker.
Where to watch?
Grab a lawn chair, skip the street lights, and head somewhere with low light pollution. Think E.G. Simmons Park, Apollo Beach Preserve, or even your backyard—if you can kill the porch lights and your neighbor’s LED jungle. Look northeast toward the constellation Perseus, and keep your eyes peeled. No telescope needed.
And remember: your eyes take about 20–30 minutes to adjust to the dark, so leave the phone in your pocket. Or better yet, bring a friend and just look up. We all could use a little wonder these days.
So, Southshore—mark your calendar, make a wish (or 50), and enjoy one of the simplest, most awe-inspiring summer nights around.