The Perseids Meteor Shower Promises Celestial Fun

By Sharon Mager

Ever wished upon on a falling star? There will be multiple chances this week. The annual Perseid Meteor Shower is underway and will peak late on the evening of August 12 and in the wee hours of the morning, before sunrise, on August 13. That’s the best time to see the shimmering debris--up to 60 an hour.

The Perseid meteors aren’t really falling stars. They’re bits of rock and dust fragments left by the comet Swift-Tuttle. Every year in August, the earth passes through this debris cloud. As small particles collide with the earth’s atmosphere, they burn up, creating a lighting quick streak of light across the heavens.

Though viewers can see the shower anywhere in the sky, they seem to originate near the constellation Perseus the Hero, near the big dipper. Meteor showers obtain their names according to this convention.

The best way to watch meteor showers is in full darkness, away from artificial lights. Spread a blanket or take chairs and allow about 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust.

There will be a full moon, obscuring the smaller meteors, but the show will go on. Positioning yourself so the moon is behind something in your vision may help. Also,the Perseid shower will occur simultaneously with the Delta Aquarid Meteor shower this year. Although the Delta Aquarid does not produce as many meteors per hour as the Perseid shower, it should enhance the display. Also, don’t hesitate to watch the evenings several nights before and after peak, meteors will still be streaking through the sky.

Sunset Beach resident Patty Powers recalls years of getting up in the wee hours of the morning to watch the annual meteor shower. “It wasn’t easy getting out of bed, but it was worth it. I’d take the kids and we’d walk over to a friend’s house and we’d stand in her front yard. The kids would say, ‘there’s one! and ‘there’s another one!’. They were so excited and it was a lot of fun,” Powers said.

Pasadena resident Valerie Earhart said the best meteor shower she ever saw was when she was about nine years old. “We got up at about 2 in the morning and rode our car past the city glare and it was magical,” she said.

To prepare for the evening, check out the incredible trailer on Meteorwatch online, www.universetoday.com/87922/meteorwatch-is-coming-look-for-perseids-with-the-rest-of-the-world. The site also tells how to interact with others by tweeting meteor sightings.

Have fun viewing and remember to bring blankets, mosquito spray, drinks and munchies. For night owls, why not throw a star party and invite friends to watch through the night?

Upcoming meteor showers include Draconids on October 8; Orionids on October 21; Leonids on November 17; and geminids on December 17.

For more information visit www.stardate.org/nightsky/meteors,

www.earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide,

and www.astronomy.com.