Meteor spectacle 'set to dazzle'

[bottomburp]

Meteor spectacle 'set to dazzle'

The annual display is caused by debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle

Sky-watchers could be in for "fantastic views" over the next two days as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak.

According to Nasa, the shower could produce a display of up to 80 meteors per hour.

"A waxing crescent moon will set before the shower becomes active, setting a perfect stage for meteor watching," said the US space agency on its website.

Experts are urging people to head away from city lights for the best views.

John Mason from the British Astronomical Association (BAA) told BBC News: "Weather-permitting, we should be in for a very good show across the UK.

"The shower has been ongoing for a week now and we have already seen some very bright meteors whizzing overhead."

The Perseid meteor shower is caused by debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle.

Every 133 years, the huge comet swings through the inner part of our Solar System and leaves behind a trail of dust and gravel.

When Earth passes through the debris, specks hit our atmosphere at 140,000mph and disintegrate in flashes of light.

PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER

The meteors are called the Perseids because they appear to fly out of the constellation Perseus

The yellow dot marks the Perseid radiant. The meteors can appear in any part of the sky, but all of their tails will point back to there

The best views of the meteor shower are likely to be in the Northern Hemisphere

What equipment do you need to observe the meteor shower?

The good news is none! Just use your eyes.

It will help your observation if you give your eyes some time (say 15 minutes), to become adapted to the darkness.

Binoculars may also help, but on the other hand, they may restrict your view to a small part of the sky.

The meteors originate in the region of Perseus, but they may appear in view just about anywhere in the sky. Although, if you were to track-back their trails, you would get to Perseus.


More info here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseids

[bottomburp]

Where to look?

Look up towards the North-East from 11 pm onwards on the nights of August 11th, 12th and 13th and 14th. The peak of activity - when you might expect to see 20-30 meters an hour is predicted to be between 00:30 and 03:00 BST on the morning of the 13th. This is the best time to observe on the other nights too as Perseus is rising in the sky and the Earth is facing the meteor stream. Most meteors are seen when looking about 50 degrees away from the "radiant" (the point from which the meteors appear to radiate from) which lies between Perseus and Cassiopea.

[Admin]

I'd forgotton about the meteor showers! Thank you burpy !!!!! Will be looking and hoping that the skies clear a bit.

[jackie]

Fingers crossed for clear skies tonight & tomorrow!

[Ali]

It's now 01:03 in the morning acording to clock and not a single spark seen - have now got severe neck ache from staring at sky since 11 pm 'last night' !!!

[bottomburp]

Lightweight... keep looking

[jackie]

Twas bloody cloudy here from midnight onwards, not a sausage to be seen let alone a shooting star...

[Ali]

Ulrikkkkkk kkkkk aaaaarrrrr