Look Up For The Perseid Meteor Shower - Maybe Auroras Too!

Perseid shower time lapse, August 2009 NASA/JPL

They're back! Yes, it's time for the Perseids, the most reliable meteor shower of the year. The shower peaks August 11-13 with best viewing after midnight and setting of the first quarter moon. The shower emanates from the constellation, Perseus,  named as one of the greatest hero warriors in Greek mythology. He is best remembered for slaying the Gorgon Medusa whose gaze could turn men to stone, and saving his future wife Andromeda from the dreaded sea monster, Cetus. He went on to use the head as a weapon on his journey to kingship in Mycenae (Macedonia). The goddess Athena would eventually place images of Perseus and Andromeda side by side as constellations in the Northern sky.

Perseus With the Head of Medusa

New research has concluded that the Perseid event produces more fireballs - meteors brighter than the planets, Jupiter and Venus - than any other shower so you can still see them even in full moonlight. One of the most spectacular fireballs I ever saw cut across at least 120 degrees of steel blue sky about half an hour after sunset. It's usually best to skywatch between midnight and sunrise, but predicting shower peaks remains a difficult task.

Here's how to enjoy the Perseids. If the night is clear, find a dark location, take a lounge chair or blanket and bug spray outside especially between midnight and dawn and look into the northeast sky. In that sky, you'll see a lopsided "W" known as the constellation Cassiopeia, an easy marker for its neighbor, Perseus. The shower radiates from this point as it rotates across the sky but it's important to note that meteors may occur anywhere in the sky dome. Furthermore, you will likely see some random meteors that will not fit the pattern. Don't bother with a telescope, but you may enjoy binoculars for exploring deeper into space when the meteor watch gets a tad slow.

This year the shower peaks at the same time a series of strong energy ejections from the sun will reach our planet. That means skywatchers in the mid lattitudes - those living north of a line from Washington, DC, to San Francisco - may see some vivid auroras.  

Also, if your weather doesn't cooperate at the shower's maximum, keep in mind that it will be gradually declining through the evening of August 18 so you still have a good chance of seeing a piece of the show. Also remember that the shower will be available on several You Tube live streams.

For the latest news about the shower and potential for auroras visit spaceweather.com.





Sources

Photos and Illustrations:
Perseus With the Head of Medusa, ca. 1800, Antonio Canova. Vatican City, Museo Pio-Clementino, Octagon Hall, Canova Cabinet

Text:
earthsky.org