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Perseid Meteor Shower is coming!
We who live in the northern hemisphere get a special treat this month. The 2021 Perseid Meteor shower will be visible on the early mornings of August 11-13.
On those days there will be no moon to brighten the night sky. The meteors are best seen with as little surrounding light as possible. If you can get away from the city lights, the view should be spectacular. Here are some tips taken from the website, EarthSky. Check it out.
- No special equipment, or knowledge of the constellations, needed.
- Find a wide-open sky. These meteors will all come from a single point in the sky, their radiant point. More about that below.
- Watch from midnight to dawn. That’s when the part of Earth you’re standing on will be heading into the meteor stream in space. So, you’ll see more meteors. By dawn, they’ll be raining down from overhead. Be aware that the Perseid meteors will start to fly in mid-to-late evening from northerly latitudes. South of the equator, the Perseids start to streak the sky around midnight.
- You want a dark sky for watching meteors. In a dark sky, you may see up to 60 meteors per hour at the shower’s peak.
- Give yourself at least an hour of observing time, because the meteors in meteor showers come in spurts and are interspersed with lulls.
- Enjoy the comfort of a reclining lawn chair. Bring along some other things you might enjoy also, like a thermos filled with a hot drink.
- If you must watch in moonlight, place yourself in the moon’s shadow. In 2021, the moon will be in a waxing crescent phase, setting in the west in early evening, as the Perseids peak. So, the moon won’t be a factor for the Perseids’ peak this year.
- Consider watching after the peak. People tend to focus on the peak mornings of meteor showers, and that’s entirely appropriate.
- Remember, all good things come to those who wait. Meteors are part of nature. There’s no way to predict exactly how many you’ll see on any given night. Find a good spot, watch, wait. You’ll see some.
- Also remember, as the Perseids are rising to their peak, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower will still be rambling along steadily. You’ll see mostly Perseids, but also some Delta Aquariids in the mix.
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