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Perseid meteor shower: how to see the celestial show from the US Perseid meteor shower: how to see the celestial show from the US
(35 minutes later)
Fleeting blazes of fire and light will streak and fade through the sky this week, at the height of what astronomers predict will be a spectacular meteor shower visible to skygazers in the US.Fleeting blazes of fire and light will streak and fade through the sky this week, at the height of what astronomers predict will be a spectacular meteor shower visible to skygazers in the US.
The Perseid meteor shower will peak on the nights of 12 and 13 August, as the Earth swings through the densest debris left behind by a distant comet’s trail. On the east coast, the greatest cascade of fiery, disintegrating debris will fall at about 4am (1am Pacific time).The Perseid meteor shower will peak on the nights of 12 and 13 August, as the Earth swings through the densest debris left behind by a distant comet’s trail. On the east coast, the greatest cascade of fiery, disintegrating debris will fall at about 4am (1am Pacific time).
Conditions are especially good this year for the annual meteor shower, astronomers say, since the sky will be free from that bane of stargazing: moonlight. Unlike last year, when a bright “supermoon” hid much of the shower with its glare, the height of the 2015 shower coincides with a new moon and dark skies.Conditions are especially good this year for the annual meteor shower, astronomers say, since the sky will be free from that bane of stargazing: moonlight. Unlike last year, when a bright “supermoon” hid much of the shower with its glare, the height of the 2015 shower coincides with a new moon and dark skies.
“The moon will be nearly new, setting the stage for a great display,” Bill Cooke of Nasa’s Meteoroid Environment Office said in a statement. The authors of the agency’s yearly Asteroid Watch agreed: “If you see one meteor shower this year, make it August’s Perseids or December’s Geminids.“The moon will be nearly new, setting the stage for a great display,” Bill Cooke of Nasa’s Meteoroid Environment Office said in a statement. The authors of the agency’s yearly Asteroid Watch agreed: “If you see one meteor shower this year, make it August’s Perseids or December’s Geminids.
“The Perseids feature fast and bright meteors that frequently leave trains, and in 2015 there will be no moonlight to upstage the shower.”“The Perseids feature fast and bright meteors that frequently leave trains, and in 2015 there will be no moonlight to upstage the shower.”
The shower should be visible from anywhere in the US, but for the best views astronomers strongly recommend watching far from cities.The shower should be visible from anywhere in the US, but for the best views astronomers strongly recommend watching far from cities.
“Try to find a campground or someplace that’ll allow you to be there overnight,” Mike Hankey, operations manager for the American Meteor Society, said.“Try to find a campground or someplace that’ll allow you to be there overnight,” Mike Hankey, operations manager for the American Meteor Society, said.
Light pollution can reduce star visibility by a factor of 10, depending on the location, while under the clear, dark sides of the countryside as many as 80 to 100 meteors may be visible per hour.Light pollution can reduce star visibility by a factor of 10, depending on the location, while under the clear, dark sides of the countryside as many as 80 to 100 meteors may be visible per hour.
“Parks and beaches would be great but they’ll usually close their gates at dusk,” Hnkey warned, saying the most important tips were simply to plan ahead and bring supplies to get comfortable.“Parks and beaches would be great but they’ll usually close their gates at dusk,” Hnkey warned, saying the most important tips were simply to plan ahead and bring supplies to get comfortable.
“You could always find a nice road that’s not traveled much but you’ll want to have permission. People can get very weird at night.”“You could always find a nice road that’s not traveled much but you’ll want to have permission. People can get very weird at night.”
Staying up late will likely yield the most spectacular show, Hankey said, comparing the Earth to a car driving into a swarm of bugs – a metaphor complicated slightly by the Earth’s constant spin.Staying up late will likely yield the most spectacular show, Hankey said, comparing the Earth to a car driving into a swarm of bugs – a metaphor complicated slightly by the Earth’s constant spin.
“The Earth is driving into the front of this debris,” Hankey said, “so the intensity is going to be more when the place you’re living moves to face this cloud.”“The Earth is driving into the front of this debris,” Hankey said, “so the intensity is going to be more when the place you’re living moves to face this cloud.”
Meteor showers fall away from the constellation from which their named – called their “radiant” – in this case Perseus, which will appear in the north-east to northern hemisphere viewers in August. But meteors will be visible all around the sky’s dome, Hankey said.Meteor showers fall away from the constellation from which their named – called their “radiant” – in this case Perseus, which will appear in the north-east to northern hemisphere viewers in August. But meteors will be visible all around the sky’s dome, Hankey said.
“You could be looking west, see a meteor and draw a line in the sky back to Perseus.”“You could be looking west, see a meteor and draw a line in the sky back to Perseus.”
Bruce McClure of EarthSky notes that even early in the night viewers could catch an “earthgrazer”, a long, “slow, colorful meteor traveling horizontally across the evening sky”.Bruce McClure of EarthSky notes that even early in the night viewers could catch an “earthgrazer”, a long, “slow, colorful meteor traveling horizontally across the evening sky”.
Weather forecasts for the week predict clouds and storms in New England and the south-east US, but much of the mid-Atlantic, central US, Texas and California should have relatively clear skies.Weather forecasts for the week predict clouds and storms in New England and the south-east US, but much of the mid-Atlantic, central US, Texas and California should have relatively clear skies.
Nasa discourages using telescopes or binoculars, which are better for viewing a specific celestial body than the unpredictable flares of a meteor shower. In fact, the only things the space agency recommends are a blanket and lawn chair to get comfortable.Nasa discourages using telescopes or binoculars, which are better for viewing a specific celestial body than the unpredictable flares of a meteor shower. In fact, the only things the space agency recommends are a blanket and lawn chair to get comfortable.
“Relaxed eyes will quickly zone in on any movement up above, and you’ll be able to spot more meteors. Avoid looking at your cell phone or any other light. Both destroy night vision. If you have to look at something on Earth, use a red light.” “Relaxed eyes will quickly zone in on any movement up above, and you’ll be able to spot more meteors. Avoid looking at your cellphone or any other light. Both destroy night vision. If you have to look at something on Earth, use a red light.”
Every year from mid-July to late August, the Earth passes through the tail of dust and debris trailing from the very eccentric orbit of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Each time the comet passes through our solar system – about every 133 years – it warms in the sun’s glow and trails a ring of debris, some of which is thousands of years old. That debris vaporizes in bursts, streams and flutters as it enters the planet’s atmosphere, affording Earthlings an annual show of the Perseid meteor shower.Every year from mid-July to late August, the Earth passes through the tail of dust and debris trailing from the very eccentric orbit of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Each time the comet passes through our solar system – about every 133 years – it warms in the sun’s glow and trails a ring of debris, some of which is thousands of years old. That debris vaporizes in bursts, streams and flutters as it enters the planet’s atmosphere, affording Earthlings an annual show of the Perseid meteor shower.
The comet last came closest to the sun in December 1992, and will not do so again until July 2126.The comet last came closest to the sun in December 1992, and will not do so again until July 2126.
The Perseids’ intensity drops off sharply after the shower’s peak, making this week the best opportunity to see a shower until mid-December, when the Geminids fall.The Perseids’ intensity drops off sharply after the shower’s peak, making this week the best opportunity to see a shower until mid-December, when the Geminids fall.