This week sky-watchers are in for a retreat as the annual Perseid meteor shower returns. Peak viewing time will be the early morning hours of August 12, after 1:00 a.m. when the moon has set. Astronomers believe this year’s show will be even better than usual because Jupiter has nudged the debris from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle closer to Earth. They predict that those watching in dark areas away from artificial lights may be able to see as many as 150 meteors per hour.
If you think about it, that hardly constitutes a shower—that only amounts to a couple of meteors per minute. However, for those of us who have been excited by lesser “showers” of fifty to sixty meteors per hour, this is a gold mine.
For more information about this year’s Perseid meteor shower, visit the site: http://www.astronomy.com/news/observing/2016/08/perseid-meteor-shower-set-for-its-best-show-in-nearly-20-years
If you can’t watch on August 12, try one of the nights before or after that. They are supposed to peak on the 12th, but people are already spotting meteors out of that shower. Predictions of the peak are just that—predictions. And there frequently is plenty to see on the nights before and after the peak. The last shower I watched I went out the night before and saw several, then went out the night of the predicted peak and didn’t see any at all.
The most important element is a dark sky, so plan your location and time it after the moon is due to set.
For anyone who’s never watched for meteors before, here are some tips (most of these are just plain common sense):
- Find a place out in the country far from city lights
- For the Perseid shower, the best time will be after 1:00 a.m. (Central Standard Time), after the moon has set
- Look about two-thirds of the way from the horizon to the zenith (directly overhead), but look around from time to time. Meteors don’t all come from one direction or go one direction.
- Plan for comfort—take a blanket or reclining lawn chair. The easiest way to watch is flat on your back.
- Take a blanket, sweater or jacket. Even in warm weather, lying still in the damp night air can get chilly.
- Above all—be patient. You might not see any at all for several minutes, and then get a real show. You never know when they will strike.
Happy meteor watching, and good luck.
