The Hero’s Meteor Shower Returns

If there was ever a time to catch the Perseid Meteor Shower, this would be it! The waxing crescent moon sets early in the evening, meaning there will be dark skies when the meteor shower really heats up.

Named in honor of the constellation Perseus the Hero, the Perseids is by far the most popular of the annual meteor showers due to the probability of viewing a prolific number of meteors. You could possibly see up to 60 meteors an hour! The debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle produces the Perseids; the pieces hit Earth’s atmosphere at around 130,000 miles per hour. Sometimes Earth can pass through dense clumps of meteoroids which means even more meteors. So, let’s talk about the best way to catch this amazing sight.

Best days to watch: August 11, 12 and 13 are predicted to be peak days but remember, there is always the possibility of catching meteors before or after.

Best time of watch: Take a nice, long nap in the afternoon because while the meteors can start after midnight, the best time to catch them is in the very early morning hours. Like just before dawn. The reason is that the radiant climbs upward through the night and the higher the radiant is, the more meteors you will see. And BONUS! Since you are already up, look east for Orion the Hunter. He has been gone since June but now rises just before dawn.

Best direction to look:  While it’s great to know that the Perseids radiate (originate) from the constellation Perseus the Hero in the northeast, the meteors will be flying all over the sky. So, all you need to do is look up! But it’s always fun to identify a constellation so to find Perseus in the northeast, look for the two bright stars of Capella and Aldebaran, and “The Pleiades” star cluster. Perseus is hovering over The Pleiades and Aldebaran and to the right of Capella. Still having trouble finding it? The nearby constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen can help. Look north for a distinctive “W” or “3”. Perseus will rise below Cassiopeia. 

Best way to watch: Since it can take your eyes up to 20 minutes to adapt to the darkness, it’s best to give yourself at least an hour. Meteors come in spurts so expect some lull periods. Bring a lounge chair or blanket to make things more comfortable (and that afternoon nap will keep you from falling asleep!)

Bonus to enjoying Perseids: Perseids isn’t the only meteor shower happening. The Delta Aquariid meteor shower is happening at the exact same time. The Delta Aquariid meteor shower runs from about July 12 to August 23 every year. Delta Aquariid’s are more productive in the Southern Hemisphere, but we can still hope to catch 10 to 20 of these meteors an hour. How to tell the difference between a Perseid and Delta Aquariid meteor? Mostly from its radiant point. The Delta Aquariid meteor shower comes from the dim constellation of Aquarius the Water Bearer. Luckily, Aquarius is highest in the hours between sunset and sunrise and has bright Jupiter on its western border. So, find Jupiter in the southeast and you’ll be looking at the radiant for the Delta Aquariid meteor shower.

August Planets: Jupiter and Saturn are observable all night. If you have a telescope, check out Saturn; its rings are tilted earthward for a great sight. You can also catch Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. And keep that telescope handy for seeing Jupiter’s cloud belts, festoons, and spots. And Jupiter’s four bright moons can be seen swinging around the planet. 

Moon: Full summer produces lots of fishing opportunities, which is why the August moon is called a Sturgeon Moon. It has also been called Green Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Fruit Moon and Grain Moon.

Historical Events: Caroline Herschel, sister of William Herschel, discovers her first comet, Comet Herschel, in 1786. Asaph Hall discovers Mars’ moons, Deimos and Phobos, in 1877. And not to be outdone by his sister, William Herschel discovers Enceladus, Saturn’s moon, in 1789.