Updated for 2011
Every year in early August, we can observe the Perseid meteor shower (“the Perseids”) and it’s a fascinating sky event. This year 2011, the Perseid peak activity is expected on Saturday August 13th 2011.
Unfortunately, there is a full Moon on the same day and this will make observing difficult (but not impossible, so don’t give in until next year!)
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 2011 peak is expected on August 13th.
The predicted peak hours are during the European night and morning (01.00 – 13.00 GMT). So if you are in the US, the peak may be better placed in your night, whereas for those in Asia and the East, the predicted peak will be during daytime, so you should observe the night before and after.
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 be a problem, as mentioned already. Full Moon and meteor observing, are not best friends.
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 Saturday 13th August during hours of darkness and in the nights before and after.
Best of observing luck!
Can we able to see @ chennai, India
At what time we can able to see?
waw, you guys are so lucky. I am stuck here in the middle east where literally you can count the stars to less than 10
Colin and somebody,
It says in the text “the 2009 peak is expected on August 12th at around 15.00 hours UT”.
i presume “UT” is UTC. UTC is actually same time as GMT.
So unfortunately it peaks in the afternoon…
The whole of the planet is passing through the Tail of the comet so as soon as its dark and you avoid light pollution, (and have clear skies) you will see them all night.
Hi I am currently in Australia will I be able to view, in which direction and what will be a good time ?
In australia the best meteors will be seen by those living north of brisbane. The best time would be very early in the morning of August 13th, and look north.
Hi, I’m from Malaysia. Southeast of Asia. Will I be able to see it? And at what time? In my local time, which is +8 GMT.
Hi, I am in Waterford, Ireland. Will it be possible to see it from this area?
what about Australia??
Hey there, will i be able to see this up in the west coast of scotland? Would really love to see it.
shall we expect it in south india?
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dont you see it says at around 15.00 hours UT
so its 3pm
i too live in the uk, (england) will i be able to whitness the great shower?
UT is an Abbreviation for Universal Time
UT is used as a basis for calculating time throughout most of the world. UT is also called Greenwich Time, Greenwich Mean Time, Zulu Time. It is the time along the prime meridian (0 longitude) that runs through the Greenwich Observatory outside of London, UK, where the current system originated
Peak time would be 3pm today in the UK if this info is correct.
The next meteor collision could be heading for earth and we here in the UK wouldn’t know about it because of the 24/7 blanket of cloud we have. Crumbs most brits are startled and stay in doors when the sun actually pops out for the three days of the year that is summer.
Just kidding. Last night was clear, but I went to bed instead, today is a dull grey overcast so no chance of seeing anything tonight.
i am in india, will i get 2 see it?
hey, my knowledge of this kind of thing is very limited, but i would love to see them. im just not sure which direction i should be looking tonight if im in Southern Ireland. Any suggestions would be cool. cheers
Hi, look towards the constellation that looks like a ‘W’, to the bottom left of this is the perseids where you will see the meteors. Check out the BBC website if you can, I found a handy map of the stars on there
According to another website:
UT is an Abbreviation for Universal Time
UT is used as a basis for calculating time throughout most of the world. UT is also called Greenwich Time, Greenwich Mean Time, Zulu Time. It is the time along the prime meridian (0 longitude) that runs through the Greenwich Observatory outside of London, UK, where the current system originated.
So it this is correct, peak time would be 3pm this afternoon in the UK.
Thanks for the clarification Robbie. Very comprehensive. But isn’t 15:00 GMT 14:00 BST?
i.e. 2pm this afternoon.
Now I’m getting it wrong… 15:00 GMT is 16:00 BST : 4pm.
bunch of duffers
I am in Zimbabwe. Will I see this Perseid’s Meteor shower?
good day ,at what time probably we can see the thing. I am here in UAE.
thank you.
To “somebody” and “Colin”, I’m from South Africa and according to astronomers, the best time would be 15.00 UT time. That makes it about 10 hours difference to my local time and the time difference between South Africa and the UK is about an hour. So you should be able to see it at about 4am. If you missed it, you can check it tomorrow morning also.
I’m in Cape Town when will I be able to view.
hello will i be able to see it i am from sheffield i wondered what it was when it came up on the google homepage
please tell me !!!
thanks
i havent seen a darn thing as of yet
high n that hills arkansas
You should be able to see the meteor shower just about anywhere in the world. Except Antartica.
You probably wont see many in the City. Just the problem of those blinding City lights I’m afraid.
Why not take some friends to a satellite town (get it) & have a brew & see the specticle eh?
Happy star gazing.
Find a really dark sky – no street lights – deep in the countryside is best and you can watch them as soon as the sky darkens – they last hours. At first you will only see large meteors but as you get used to seeing them you will notice them all the time. We used to lie on our backs, several of us would go out to a hillside and just lay down. If we were really organised we’d each fix on one part of the sky. “There’s one” would be a constant chant all through the night.
the answer is yes to all of you. A clear country night is best but city dwellers should see them also as long as they are out of the direct or ambient light. just lie down in the back yard or rooftop out of the street glare and drink lots of peppermint tea.
Saw 1 a few hours ago, straight past the moon going South, was very bright. Popping out now to see if the frequency has gone up!
Well that was a bummer. Weather front currently moving across wet to east across central England, so clod cover now (thin), plus starting to come up.
Looks like best time will be just before Midnight tonight 12th and just after Midnight 13th, as the cloud is supposed to be clearing by then, moon will be up, but if they are as bright as the 1 I saw few hours ago around midnight, then should be ok!
i’m hoping to see this later here in the Philippines! (^_______________________^)
I have seen some tonight… about 4 already… although it takes a long time cos it’s still just starting!!!
Enjoyed a great show from Farnborough. Counted 6 meteors From 3:30 – 4:00AM…
Well.I’m im Norfolk in the u.k,cant see any,bu it’s cloudly as hell……
Ah well.
I’m in London and I think I just spotted a couple
of shooting stars looking out my window 2.40am GMT
im in gravesend, kent watching them seen about 10 so far
Hi! It’s me again. My GMT time now is 9.17am Aug 12th. Thanks.
Nicole @ Malaysia
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that link is for this website you numpty!!!!!!
can i see it here in the philippines on wednesday night?
Im in Preston (Kirkham) What time?
hi , i can see them , there amazing!!! you need to turn all your light off
Hello!
I’m in the UK and I’ve been told that it’s going to be at around 3am.
Just look out of your window and hope you see something!
will it be also be seen
here in the Philippines?
thanks..
this website is brilliant for information… i really enjoyed looking up into the depths of the starry sky! i struggle to remember such a beautiful night… its a shame i have no clue which way is north :[ but think i saw my 1st shooting star (YAY)
thanks alot kevin
Glen
Interesting, I am waiting to see this!
am in INDIA[chennai] . .wen can i see it ???
im in gwynedd, north wales, wen will i see them?
i am watching for them.. see something bright but not moving!!!
I am in london and i want too see the star shooting stars. Its my birthday and i am working till 7am
it will be nice to see them cos i like the colous and i find it fascinating and happy birthday its a nice present to have for your birthday if u see them
It’s my birthday too!
Happy birthday! Marianne
Hi, will i be able to see this in the city?
As i only rarly see shooting stars when im camping in the country!
let me know, Rachel
These should be brighter than average, being quite close but city lights will make it hard.
It will be easier if you find a park or open space (football pitch maybe?) where you can go and sit/lie down.
Niz xxx
yes–the country is better! what a pest street lights are!
It’s 3.14 am in Winchester Uk and I’ve been sitting in my suburban garden looking for the persaids without success. That is, until one long train of tinselly ight glistened past my periferal vision. Wonderful–besides that I had twenty minutes or so of a new experience– just star-starting: seeing the minute flashes of their reflected light switch on and off. And the silence…a warm night, so a real joy.
Welcome to Uk, and have a star-filled night.
C
If there is a darker place around you, you can see almost everything.
yeah i am also in the uk… at what time should i expect to see the meteors?
You should be able to seem them best an hour or two before dawn today, or this evening when it’s dark.
Niz xxx
hi i am in the uk in preston will i see it here and what time ?
Should be able to seem them best an hour or two before dawn today, or this evening when it’s dark.
Niz xxx
I may be only eleven but i like constilations of stars so the same time as everything else it could get darker early so really it will start at 3:00pm but it wont be dark then and it will end early in the morning
I cant belive you are 11 im 9 and I probably know more than you
yo dude i am 14 but i am too interested in the stars anything to do with astronomy the views u see are amazing please reply ASAP if u want to talk about astronomy cool if not still it would be cool to get a reply from u ok btw whats your favourite star? or moon of a certain planet or your favourite planet my favourite planet is saturn
what time is it in melbourne?