Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks August 12th, 2009
by Kevin Brown : last updated: August 13, 2009Welcome back!
Every year in early August, we can observe the Perseid meteor shower (“the Perseids”). And it’s a fascinating sky event.
Here’s a beginners’ guide to what it is 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 2009 peak is expected on August 12th at around 15.00 hours UT. There is some uncertainty, so it’s very worthwhile to observe either side of this.
In particular for European observers, the hours of darkness either side the peak hours, may well prove more fruitful! So try the previous Tuesday night, as well as the night of Wednesday 12th.
And there is also a potentially prominent Moon to contend with. It will not set below the horizon until the early hours of the morning.
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 my 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 watch out for them on Wednesday 12th August and during hours of darkness, before and after.
I live in N.I, does anyone know when I will be able to see it?
Hey will it appear in South Africa? It would be cool to know…
[...] χάσετε σήμερα αυτό το φαινόμενο. Κοντά στα μεσάνυχτα κοιτάξτε στον ουρανό για να δείτε την πτώση των [...]
it might peak at 3pm in the UK but thats not the best time as its not dark yet !!
yes, you can see from anywhere in the world.
the major problem tho , specially in UK is cloud
Hi, i’m here in the Philippines, will i be able to see it? and what time?
Hi!… I live in Bangladesh… Can’t I enjoy the perseid meteor shower from my place???… I live in Dhaka, Bangladesh…
can anyone plzzzz let me know the approx. time :S ….
Please help me!
Thanks in advance!
Haii..
I’m In Indonesia..
Will be the meteor appear in Indonesia?
Hi, I live in Pakistan. Would I be able to witness the meteor “shower”? If yes, at what time?
i’ve never seen this meteor shower all my life! am very eager to see this spectacular shower!
thanx!!
hi,i recently heard about perseids, still unsure about it but will i be able to see it in South-Africa (the northern part.)
oui,mai a la tv……
i am really looking forward to this…however in UK… the weather is miserable and we got this thick layer of dark cloud lurking. I hope it moves as i wouldnt want to miss this
what direction do i need to be looking at??
Thanks xxx
Hi,I wanted to ask that wether I would be able to witness the meteor(shower)? If yes, at what time? By the way I live in the Pakistani Punjab!
Awaiting reply………
I am here in South Africa, will we be able to see the showers too? If yes, more-or-less where in the sky will we be able to see it from?
hi i live in leeds in the UK what time will i see them
thx
i’m from india !
is it posssible for us to c this
Hi live in Malta, Mediterranean Sea.can we too see them tonight
i’m from india !
is it posssible for us to c this
hmmmmmmmmmmm this one is hell might be exiting
if we are in UAE what is the time difference n between and which part of the world it can be clearly seen.
I am in Africa, specifically Nigeria, Can I see it here and what time? Thanks.
Hi, I live in Reading, where is the best place to be able to see this?
i’m in singapore and when can i see it here?
please tell me
Hi I live in the UK in Manchester ( Stretford ) Will I see any shooting stars tonight? Was it last night or something because I had a dream about these stars but I did not know I just saw google today O.o By the way im 11…
Please reply
Many thanks,
Rhys
Hi!
I’m from Montenegro (South Europe), gmt +1. Do you know at what I’ll be able to see it??
TY
If you mist this one, you can wait till 17th november, there are the leonids, another meteor shawer. Remember 17 november 2009!
Hi, I’m in dublin ireland, hope to see the showers here tonight too, really hope so…
HI im in South-Africa
Krugersdorp what time can i view this whould be quit nise to see it
thank you so much…
I hope I will see this later in Lanzarote!
Hi..I am in Indonesia… when i open Google, I see google icon with perseid meteor. And i take around to looking for smoe information about this.
And what time please ? and do you know whn they will carry on for Ive heard there carrying on to the 24th… Well please can you tell me …
Please reply
Many thanks,
Rhys
Hi.
I live in Guernsey, in the channel Islands.
What time would be best to view the stars?
Hi. I live in the philippines. will i still be able to see it? and what tym?
Hello, I am just wondering if i will see the shower tonight or have i missed it? I live in england,west mids. Please reply i am very interested in these things.
Thanks xx
So thats what i saw Tuesday night about 11pm, here i was thinking a UFO was following me lol. well ill be looking out tonight from backgarden with a few people, hopefully we wouldn’t of missed them, anyone else ganna be looking out tonight?
Thanks xx
hi! I leave in Philippines. will i see it here? what time?
im in southren california n i was wondering when it gunna happen…
fyi the skys a reddish dull color
Hi, I live in Kent in the UK – when will I be able to see it?
Thanks
This should happen all around the world and in england im sure it will start at around 3:00pm i dont know about any other country because it does not say and obviously i wont know so haha to all the ova peeps.remeber this willbe best if you sit in an open space.
Wat abt Pakistan? Karachi? Will i be seeing them tonight??
at what time will you see this in the uk?
Hi iam in dubai , Can u plz tell me at what time will i am able to see that , Iam planing to go to the desert and witness them plz tell me the time for DUBAI
thanks
Hello,I live in Morecambe and am lucky enough to have the lake district a spit away.My son is wanting to go camping and I thought,would the best place to see the shower be in the lakes?Or would I be better to stay on the bay?
Many Thanks
i’m live in london nd i wanna see da thingy! lol!
hi, i live in northern ireland. i was just wondering will i be able to see them tonight. if so what time e.g. 10pm
im not good at constalations s is there any spacific part of the sky i need to be looking at
hai,
Iam in india.Can i see this wonder?If possible at what time I can see?
halooo i think that if you live in tha uk the best time to watch is about three this afternoon and to get a good view go to a park or a field and keep watch!!!!!!!
Hi, I’m afraid that I’ve missed it. Will there be more tonight? I only just found out about it…
if there is more when will it be??
hello, i live in the north of scotland in elgin, which is in moray, which would be the best time for me to start looking?