Each year a cloud of cosmic debris crosses the earth and the sky lights up at night with the Perseids, a meteor shower. The phenomenon is also often referred to as “shooting stars” because you have the feeling of seeing stars falling in the sky.
This year, the Perseids peak in activity between August 12 and 13 (Friday and Saturday). They can be seen all over the world, but most clearly from the northern hemisphere.
Hence in Brazil it is easier to see them in the north and northeast of the country. The best time to observe the phenomenon is when the sky is completely dark.
And it has to be clean.
But unfortunately this year because of the full moon, the phenomenon will probably not be as spectacular as last year whose luminosity hinders the visibility of other celestial bodies.
“Unfortunately, this year’s Perseid activity will take place under the worst possible circumstances for observers,” says Bill Cooke, a NASA astronomer who heads the Meteoroid Division.
In the northern hemisphere, for example, observers could see fewer numbers of shooting stars this year — perhaps between 10 and 20 an hour instead of between 50 and 60.
NASA jokingly tweeted that stargazers will see a “bright duel” between the Perseid meteor shower and the full moon.
Nevertheless, there is a chance to see shooting stars and, with a bit of luck, even a fireball in the sky.
2 of 4 The Perseids can be seen in most parts of the world, including Russia — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
The Perseids can be seen in most parts of the world, including Russia — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
It all begins with Comet SwiftTuttle in its 133year orbit around the Sun.
“What happens is that every year the Earth collides with the comet’s orbit and all the debris is left behind,” says astronomer Edward Bloomer of the Greenwich Museum in London.
When this cosmic debris—ice, dust, and pieces of rock the size of a grain of rice—reaches the upper layers of the atmosphere, “They ignite with impressive results, even if sometimes it’s just for a split second”‘ says Bloomer.
The Perseid meteor shower is special in that it is predictable it always appears in midAugust and sometimes even in late July.
The phenomenon can be seen with the naked eye and during several nights in a row.
Sometimes a larger piece of cometary debris appears in the sky and “If you’re lucky, you might spot the strange but spectacular fireball”says Bloomer, who even after years of tracking the Perseids could only observe this phenomenon for a few seconds.
Is it worth watching the phenomenon?
3 of 4 The Perseids have been sighted in the sky over Anatolia in Turkey for centuries — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
The Perseids have been sighted in the sky over Anatolia in Turkey for centuries Photo: Getty Images via BBC
“Absolutely,” says Bloomer. “Turn off all the lights and try.”
The Perseids are a kind of fireworks of nature.. And the meteor shower is so powerful that an observer can easily spot up to 100 shooting stars per hour.
And although meteors hit the Earth’s atmosphere at an incredible speed of 215,000 km/h, they pose no danger.
“Give yourself a gift, lay on a blanket and look at the sky. It’s incredibly relaxing”‘ says Bloomer.
Tips for observing the Perseids
Astronomer Edward Bloomer recommends:
- Choose a spot where you have a wide view of the eastnortheast sky. If you know constellations, look for Perseus near Cassiopeia. There are mobile apps that can help you find these constellations
- Choose your spot at dusk, lay on a blanket on the floor and wait until it’s completely dark. You must turn off all lights, cell phones, and all other light sources
- Relax and enjoy one of the greatest natural phenomena: you will observe about 100 meteors per hour and you will even be able to see a fireball
Why is the phenomenon called Persiedas?
4 of 4 From ancient China to the Romans, there are many legends that attempt to explain the Perseid phenomenon — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
From ancient China to the Romans, there are many legends attempting to explain the Perseid phenomenon — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
“We call them Perseids because shooting stars seem to fall out of the constellation Perseus‘ says Bloomer, but the phenomenon has been observed — and named — by many different cultures.
In the Catholic tradition it is known as “The Tears of Saint Lawrence”, in reference to Laurentius, one of the seven deacons of Rome who was martyred in the year 258 during the Roman persecution of Christians.
As this saint would have been burned at the stake on August 10, local folklore says that the shooting stars visible at this time of year are residual sparks from the fire that consumed him.
But long before the Romans, there were some surprisingly accurate astronomical records from Persia, Babylonia, Egypt, Korea and Japan with detailed accounts of meteor showers.
The first sighting of the Perseids is said to have occurred during the Han Dynasty in China, when astronomers in the year 36 wrote of nights when “over 100 meteors flew in the morning.”