TORONTO – It’s that time again. Time for the best meteor shower of the year, the Perseids.
The only problem is that pesky, almost-full moon is making it difficult.
READ MORE: Look up! August is a great time to catch meteors
Still, the Perseids provide us with some of the brightest meteors of the year, so you have a pretty good chance of catching a few. Here are some tips.
Get to a dark sky and know where to look
A dark sky is always best for any nighttime celestial event, but of course, there’s that very bright moon to contend with right now. The specific problem is that the moon rises at almost the same time as the constellation Perseus, the namesake of this shower. This is the location from which the meteors seem to originate, called the radiant.
Though the moon will be roughly 95 per cent illuminated Tuesday night, the key is to turn away from it so that you’re not looking at its bright glare. Still, the moon will dim the night sky near it, making it a bit difficult to see any faint meteors.
Lie down and look up!
Always look up. That might sound like an obvious piece of advice, but you’d be surprised how often people forget to continue to look up.
We’ve always been taught to look at the person we’re talking to, but forget being polite when watching for meteors: If you don’t look up, you miss the chance to catch these tiny pieces of space dust that might cross the sky in the blink of an eye.
Also, don’t look at your phone: that white light will make you lose your dark adaptation (which allows you to see faint objects in the sky), and even if you just look at it for a split second, it could take several minutes for your eyes to readjust.
Have patience
This is particularly important because of the moon’s presence in the sky for this year’s shower. Don’t expect to see a meteor after being outside for five minutes or even 15. Just lie outside and enjoy the night sky, with some good company. And bring a blanket! You’d be surprised how chilly it gets at night.
The later the better
The best time to catch the Perseids is as the night wears on, right into the dawn. Why? Because the radiant – the constellation Perseus – gets higher in the sky where it is darker.
Don’t do it for just one night
Again, this is important because of the moon.
The Perseid shower actually runs from July 13 to Aug. 26 as Earth enters the debris left over from Comet Swift-Tuttle (its debris is what streaks through the atmosphere giving us the Perseids). The shower just peaks on the night of Aug. 11 and 12 this year.
So, as the days go on, the moon will do two things: decrease in illumination (it will be 74 per cent illuminated by Friday; it will be new by Aug. 25) and it will rise later.
Now put away that phone, grab a blanket and pray for clear skies. You may still catch a few of the best meteors of the year. And remember: there’s always next year – and there won’t be a moon to deal with.
Comments