Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks August 12-13th, 2010
by Kevin Brown : last updated: August 10, 2010Every year in early August, we can observe the Perseid meteor shower (“the Perseids”), and it’s a fascinating sky event.
This year 2010, the Perseid peak activity is expected over the night of Thursday 12th to Friday 13th 2010. And with no moonlight to speak of (the Moon is new on August 10th), conditions should be very favorable, weather permitting.
Here’s a beginners’ guide to the Perseid meteor shower and how best to enjoy it. (Perhaps, impress your friends with these astronomy questions and answers!)
What are the Perseids and what is a meteor?
Every year in August, the Earth passes through rock and dust fragments left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle, last time it came near the Sun. As these small particles collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, they burn-up, often creating a startling streak of light across the sky.
You can easily observe this and it can be a wonderous spectacle.
Why is it called the Perseid meteor shower?
The term “Perseid”, refers to the star constellation of Perseus.
View of Perseid meteor radiant point, above NE horizon after midnight
The meteors actually have nothing to do with the stars we see from Earth, as being part of Perseus. It just appears as though the meteors originate from Perseus.
In fact, the rock fragments are close to the Earth – that’s why they burn in our atmosphere.
They are very close, just a few hundred miles – not many, many light years distant like the stars.
But, if you trace-back the bright trails of meteors we see, they appear to originate from the stars of Perseus.
When can you see them?
The Perseid meteor shower actually starts in late July and runs to late August. However, the best time to view is around the peak.
It’s not precise, but the 2010 peak is expected on the night of August 12th/13th.
The predicted peak hours are during the European night (19.00 – 06.00 GMT). So if you are in the US, the peak may be earlier in your night, whereas for those in Asia and the East, the peak may be later in your night.
But having said that, there is always uncertainty in these meteor shower predictions, so it may be very worthwhile to observe during the hours of darkness and indeed, other nights, before and after the expected peak.
This year the Moon will not be a problem. As only a 2-day-old sliver, moonlight will be very limited, making conditions for meteor observation very favorable (as long as the sky is clear of course).
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.
Can they be measured, at all?
Yes. Keen astronomers count how many appear in a fixed period of time, in a certain area of the sky. This is expressed as a Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR).
We may expect around 100 streaks of meteor light across the sky per hour, at or near the shower peak.
Do please look-up and be alert for Perseid meteors, on Thursday/Friday 12th/13th August during hours of darkness and in the nights before and after.
Best of observing luck!
Hi Kevin, this is all really fascinating. I’m going to be in a very remote area, approx 170km south of Uluru Australia from 17-21 August. Do you think I might stand a chance of seeing anything or will it be too late? Thanks. Angela.
Hi Angela, My pleasure! It’s worth looking then, although it’s past the peak.
Re Australia viewing, see John’s reply to Comment #5 above.
Best of luck.
What time will I be able to see it in the UK, in Kent? Which way should I look? Will I be able to see it in a wooded valley?
Hi Fionn
Just look on any clear night from now on. Look to the North, mainly. As long as you can see clear night sky, you may be lucky. Let us know.
Thanks
Kevin
Thank you, I’m sure I’ll see some.
Im from California will it be better to see the showers from the beach?
Hi Michelle,
Should be helpful, if there’s a lot of sky visible to you. I would suggest somewhere with as much Northwards view of the sky, as possible. Thanks.
Hey!
I look forward to the meteor shower every year, the 12th is my birthday! it’s a tradition to look out for them now! =) the best I’ve seen was in 2002 on my eighteenth birthday!
MY BIRTHDAY TOO! (11th)
Happy Birthday for next week, to you both!
I hope you see some memorable streaks of light across the Night Sky!
Hi,
I will be in Thailand from the 11th to the 15th. Will we be able to see the shower well from there?
Hi Chelsey,
Have fun in Thailand. You should be able to, but from my (very limited) experience of South East Asia, the skies are quite humid and misty.
So best of luck,
Kevin
[...] August 12, 2009 and is known as “the Perseids meteor shower” which occurs every year. Here’s a good introduction to what you can expect. If you’re really keen and already own (or can borrow) a [...]
Thanks will be om the look out.
The family usually catch it every year if its not cloudy. We are usually abroad and the skies are clear its great fun keep the children up, get a blanket and lie on the lawn somewhere with as litle light polution as possible.
Hi Rebecca, I wish you and your family, the best of luck with your “connection with the Universe” this year. Thanks, Kevin
Question for my son…..he is stationed in Iraq.
Can the shower be seen from there? and if so, what would be the time frame?
Hi,
Same thoughts as above really, have a look when it’s dark where he is and ideally, before the Moon comes up. At his latitude, the radiant point (the apparent origin, see above) will not be visible, but it’s still worth looking.
Hi i live in the western hemisphere so it will be daylight when there is the meteor shower can i still see it and what time PLEASE REPLY
Hi, The peak is expected at 15:00 UT (GMT), which is daytime in Europe. Further West, it might be dark then? (depending on where you are) So worth a good look when it’s dark, where you are.
Best of luck.
The showers this year coincide with the beginning of Netrootsnation convention in Pittsburgh. I will alert them.
Hi
I am taking part in a bushcraft course for kids aged 8-12 on 11th August, as a storyteller. We will be in the UK, camping in a national park with very little light pollution. I am thinking of telling some stories about stars around the campfire and then taking the kids out to look for shooting stars. Accepting that we’ll need a clear sky, what are the chances of them seeing one or two if they look for around 15 minutes at around 9pm BST (8pm GMT)?
Thanks
Hi,
It’s certainly worth a look. However, it won’t get fully dark until about 22.00 BST at London latitude and 22.40 at Edinburgh latitude. Although the Moon should be not be up then – that’s in your favour, so best of luck.
Thanks. We’ll be on Dartmoor, so at the better end of time re darkness. Fingers crossed for a bit of magic then
Hi
I have been reading the posts with interest. I haven’t seen the shower before and I would like to see it with my family. I am in South East of UK and just wanted to know weather it is better viewed on the Tues or Wed Here? Also i notice that in one of your posts you said that it peaks at 1500 hrs in the western hempisphere – Does this mean that we wouldn’t see much at night? Your opinion what time in the South of the UK would be best to see it – can you also confirm – we need to be looking North East. We are very keen to see this at its best and really appeciate your help. Many thanks.
HI i am rely now starting to love meteors but i have never seen one i love the info on this site and i will be watching for the meteor shower august but i have one problem please HELP!!!
i live in trinidad and tobago in the caribean,that is the west indian sky or whatever i really dont know will i be able to see the meteors
HI Ivar,
Sorry for the slow response! You should be able to, if you can find some clear and dark sky. Best of luck! Please let us know.
Hi,
Im kinda new to this but i want to try to catch it with my daughter. So would the best time to view it in florida be early morning as well? And should we be looking Northeast?
Thanks for your help.
Hi John,
Yes, take a look towards the North East and you may see some meteors. As mentioned, the problem this year is the bright Moon nearby. You may have better luck during the window after the Sun sets and before the Moon rises.
Best of luck!
I saw a meteor in that general are of the sky NE last night(July13th) around 11pmEST. May this have been an early meteor? It was only just one, Although i went inside after i saw it.
Chris
Hi Chris,
Might have been, although July 23rd is given as the normal earliest date for Perseid meteors.
Meteors do appear throughout the year – it’s just the ZHR (rate per hour), that marks-out the named showers as something special.
Keep looking and please report back here!
cheers
Kevin
Hello – appreciate the great info on the site. I am going camping Aug 18 and am wondering if we can expect any residual effect from the Perseids shower at that time? We will be up in the Sierras at very high elevation – we normally can see some meteor activity, I am just wondering if this shower peaking a week earlier will add to that,
Thanks
Hi Jeff,
You might be lucky and I do envy you up in the mountains!
Unfortunately though, this year the Perseid peak ZHR, coincides with that bright waning Moon. Meteors or not however, I’m sure you will have something interesting to observe. Have fun.
All the best
Kevin
Is it possible to see the perseid shower in the southern hemisphere? I live in melbourne, Australia and I would love to see them.
Would the same times still apply?
Hi Elizabeth,
I’m not really sure, to be honest (I’ve not been to the Southern hemisphere, ever!).
You will not be able to see the radiant point (the apparent origin of the shower), because it will be too far North for you. But meteors can be visible anywhere in our sky, so it will be well worth taking a good look either side of August 12th.
And most celestial events happen at similar local time, wherever you are in the World.
Best of luck
Kevin
I can assure you, the Perceids is very visible from australia (im in Albury, NSW) and have been
treated to some truely spectacular august nights thanks to the perceids. the best thus far, 2005, but all of them are fantastic.
just remember…you need to get yourself to the darkest out of the way place as possible from the melbourne lights, i was down there in 2007 and could barely see the spectacle.
Hi John, is it possible you could give me some actual times for here in Ballarat? thanx Andrew
can anyone tell me what night or at what time of night i can view in NSW.
thanks
Hey buddy I now that area well, my Fiance is from Ararat. they are saying best time here is actually during the day for us, so say 2pm BST, think that would about about midnight there for you give or take an hour!
If it makes a difference – which I suppose logically it should not – I am in the EST zone
Hi Tyler,
Thanks for asking. It’s worth looking in the DAYS before and after the peak. Meteors should start to be visible from the end of July.
In fact this year, the position of the Moon will be less than favourable around the expected peak, so you may have better luck earlier.
Would earlier not be worse?
The full moon is on the 6th of August.
The idea I have in mind is to visit a national dark sky park (for the first time) on the best viewing day for the shower. Alternatively I’m thinking of going on the night of the new moon, the 20th – since the timing is so bad for this one.
You are correct about the full Moon. This Perseids this year are unfavorable.
The normal limits are given as 23 July – 20 Aug and with the full Moon on 6 Aug, it will probably need to be very early or late, but it’s worth looking anyway – just don’t expect too much this time.
Thank you again for the information, Kevin!
I think I’ll plan on an August 20th trip.
I’m a bit confused.
If one wished to see the peak of the meteor shower without having to get up in the godless early hours before the dawn, is on best served watching the skies the night of the 11th or the night of the 12th?
You say “Watch for them on Tuesday Aug 12th…” Tuesday is the 11th!
Hi Wayne,
Thanks very much for the comment. I have updated this article for 2009! (it was written last year)
All the best
Kevin
Aug 12 is wednesday. The shower is best viewed before dawn on wed the 12th but you can expect some meteors on tuesday night as well.
im deployed in souther Iraq will i be able to see this?
Yeahh, Because There Are Clearer Skies