Urban Astronomer explains the Perseid Shower

By Ben Trefny

Published August 8, 2013 at 5:46 PM PDT

This weekend, over 100 meteors per hour will descend on Earth in the annual Perseid Shower, otherwise known as the "fireball champion." This shower contains the highest concentration of bright meteors, called fireballs, which are known for leaving bright, visible streaks in the sky as they fall, more so than any other recurring meteor shower. San Francisco's "Urban Astronomer" Paul Salazar explained what you can see in the night sky over the weekend.

Click the audio player above to hear the explanation.

You can find out how to join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for the Perseid Meteor Shower here.

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Ben Trefny

I joined KALW in 2004. As Executive News Editor and then News Director, I helped our news department win numerous regional and national awards for long- and short-form journalism. I've also helped create numerous training programs — for teenagers, incarcerated people, and early-career journalists — and have taught hundreds of audio producers. I served as interim Executive Director for nearly two years. My work is currently focused on creating original live events, programming, and building partnerships with like-minded organizations.

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