Perseid Meteor Shower - When and How to Watch

The annual Perseid meteor shower will take place in August and it's a great time to watch this incredible event. You can watch this show for free, and there are many different ways to do so.

Maximum number of "shooting stars" per hour

The Perseid meteor shower is a celestial event that happens every year from July 25th through August 18th. It is one of the most intense meteor showers of the year. In fact, the meteor shower can produce as many as 100 shooting stars per hour. But if you're watching the show, it pays to know the proper ways to go about doing so.

First of all, it helps to have a dark sky. Even if you live in a city with light pollution, you can still see some of the stars. Check out the Light Pollution Map to find out where the darkest parts of the sky are in your area.

Another trick is to watch the night sky without looking at the moon. This is because the Moon is actually brighter than the rest of the night sky and it will wash out the fainter meteors. If you are lucky enough to be able to get the moon out of the way, you will have a great night.

To see the best meteors, you have to look at the night sky in the dark. That is where the best shooting stars come from. However, you have to make sure the sky is really dark. You can do this by going to a dark sky site or just by turning off the lights and sitting in a dark room.

Besides the obscura, you should also look at the brightest stars you can. The best time to do this is between four and five in the morning. This is the time when the sun is low in the sky and the constellation of Perseus is high up in the northeast.

The American Meteor Society estimates that the shower will produce as many as 70 meteors per hour, which is about ten times the number of sporadic meteors. Although the actual numbers are more complicated, the Perseids is typically the clearest meteor shower of the year.

The best places to view the meteor shower are in the northern hemisphere. As the night progresses, the constellation of Perseus rises in the northeast and the meteor shower peaks.

If you want to see a good number of the stars, you will have to get a 360-degree view of the sky. For some, this is easier than it sounds. One of the best vantage points is in mid-northern latitudes, where you will escape the glow of city lights.

The maximum number of "shooting stars" you will be able to see will vary by region and even from person to person. It is generally believed that the most accurate shooting star rate is around 100 per hour. Fortunately, there is an online tool that will tell you how many shooting stars you can see if you have a perfect dark sky.

Orionids and Geminids offer brightest meteors

The Perseid meteor shower is the second largest annual meteor shower, behind the Geminids. This shower is a source of fireballs and bright, multicolored meteors. Its radiant is high in the sky in the early morning hours and low in the evening hours. However, the Moon will cast a glare that will diminish the visibility of these bright meteors. If you're looking for the best viewing conditions, wait until after the Moon sets.

This shower is most visible in the Northern Hemisphere. The shower peaks on the morning of the 14th. For those in the southern hemisphere, watch for the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, which also produces bright, colorful meteors. These meteors are often quite a treat to see. They are bright, and sometimes leave smoky trails as they streak across the sky.

Orionids are the other comet-related meteor shower, and are triggered when Earth passes through a trail left by the comet. The radiant is in the northwest part of the sky and can be seen in most parts of the world. As Earth crosses the trail, it is illuminated by a large number of the particles from the comet. While the rate of Orionids is less than that of the Eta Aquariids, it is still a great shower to observe.

Orionids and Geminids are incredibly strong showers, and both can be easily observed from dark sky locations. Generally, you can expect at least a dozen per hour of the latter. With clear skies, you can view up to 100 per hour of the former. However, the stream is not predictable, and it may vary depending on the weather and a few other factors.

For many years, Geminids were the shower of choice for those living in the northern hemisphere. This is because they are the brightest of the three meteor showers, and their radiant rises near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini the Twins.

In the northern hemisphere, the radiant is usually highest at about 9:30 p.m., and the shower has been known to peak at about 4:30 a.m. On the other hand, it can be seen at any time during the night, as long as the skies are clear.

For viewers in the Southern Hemisphere, the Eta Aquariids are the more impressive of the two. This shower is often bright, and the meteors streak from the horizon to the horizon, leaving a smoky trail in their wake. Although they are the most spectacular of the three showers, they are not as frequent as the others.

Perseid meteors, on the other hand, are very active. These showers are produced by bits of debris from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The comet orbits the Sun every 130 years. When it was last close to the Sun in the late 1990s, it left a trail of debris that produced a spectacular show.

Best dark sky parks in the U.S.

If you're looking for a place to see the stars, dark sky parks are ideal. These areas are renowned for their stargazing opportunities, but they are also home to astronomy programs and ranger-led astronomy events. Some of these parks even host monthly star parties, where guests can gather to look at the heavens.

Dark Sky Parks are located throughout the United States. Some are state parks, while others are national parks. In fact, there are a total of 60 dark sky places in the US. They are designated by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the dark skies of the nation.

IDA's Dark Sky Places are certified by a rigorous application process and community support. Some of these parks offer ranger-led astronomy classes, which can help you learn more about the stars and galaxies that are so hard to see. Depending on the park, you might be able to find a hard standing to hold a telescope, or you can take a short hike to a lake.

Other parks have their own special astronomy observation field. Some of these include Cherry Springs State Park, which offers workshops and private stargazing tours, as well as a campground. Another astronomy observation field is at Staunton River State Park, which has a new Waterfront Event Center and Observatory. The park also has historic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The International Dark-Sky Association maintains a list of Dark Sky Communities, and these include both national and state parks. These are places where light pollution has been actively curtailed. You can check the map below to find a dark sky community near you.

A dark sky sanctuary is usually a remote spot, where you can experience stargazing without distractions. These parks are not generally public. However, they are often supported by local communities. This is important because the night sky is a diminishing resource, as more and more people lose their ability to view it from their own homes.

Some dark sky parks are designated as Dark Sky Sanctuaries, meaning they are officially dark. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, for example, is the only Dark Sky Sanctuary east of the Mississippi. It's a haven for both daytime exploration and stargazing, and it's currently working toward becoming an International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Some of the most popular Dark Sky Parks are located in the Western U.S., and they are all located in pristine national and state parks. There are also several dark sky parks on the East Coast.

One of the more famous parks for stargazing is Black Canyon of the Gunnison, in Colorado. Unlike many of the other national parks, this one is not crowded, making it a perfect location for stargazing.

Big Bend National Park is another great place to experience the sky at night. You can also visit the McDonald Observatory, which is home to the world's largest optical telescope. Despite its remote location, the park has a number of hiking trails to explore. Lastly, you can enjoy the night skies by camping in the national park.