Perseids. Make a wish: where and how to watch the main meteor shower of the year
The 2016 Perseid meteor shower will bring down its stream of light to Earth in August of this year, when a long tail of debris from comet Swift-Tuttle intersects with the trajectory of our planet. An unforgettable show awaits us. We will tell you how and where the Perseids will be visible in 2016.
According to many astronomers, the Perseid meteor shower is rightfully considered the most popular meteor shower of the year. In 2016, it will be brighter than ever: the number of falling meteors will increase, on average, twice.
It is expected that this year, at the peak moment, from 150 to 200 meteors of the Perseid meteor shower will fall every hour, while in normal years this figure is kept at around 80 meteors. The last time astronomers observed such an increase was in 2009.
Perseids 2016 - What time to watch?
From July 17 until August 24, the Earth will pass through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle. At the same time, the peak time - when our planet enters the densest region of the cometary plume - will be on August 12. In other words, during this peak you will see the most meteors in the shortest possible period, however, before and after this date, you will still be able to observe some Perseids.
These meteors will appear from the constellation Perseus, which appears in the sky around 22:00 local time. At the same time, most meteors will be visible to the observer only after midnight. Starfall can illuminate the entire night sky, but its beginning will invariably appear from the constellation Perseus.
On the evening of August 11, the view will be hindered by the illumination of the Moon, but it will set at 1 am on August 12. Therefore, it is best to start your observations of meteor showers after the moon has set.
Perseids 2016 - Where Will They Be Seen?
The Perseid meteor shower is most comfortable to observe in the northern hemisphere and up to the middle of the southern latitudes, all you need is the darkest possible space, the opportunity to sit comfortably and a little patience.
The full moon in August will occur on the 18th, so the most comfortable for observation will be the first half of the month, when the light from the moon is not so bright.
Perseids 2016 - Source?
Comet Swift-Tuttle is the largest cosmic object known to us regularly passing near the Earth; its width is about 26 kilometers. The last time this comet, orbiting the Sun, passed near our planet in 1992, the next time the same date will take place only in 2126. However, we will not be allowed to forget about this comet by its trail consisting of cometary dust and debris, which annually creates the Perseid meteor shower.
When you sit and watch a meteor shower, you are actually seeing bits of a comet burning up in the earth's atmosphere at a speed of 59 kilometers per second. In space, these fragments are called "meteoroids", but as they enter the earth's atmosphere, they are already called "meteors". If the "meteor" was able to reach the surface of the Earth and did not burn up in the atmosphere, it is already customary to call it a "meteorite".
Most Perseid meteors are not very large to reach the Earth's surface and are roughly the size of a grain of sand.
This year, the comet's plume is as dense as ever, meaning the stellar rain will be at least twice as intense as usual. This happens when numerous fragments of a comet come together due to the gravitational influence of the giant planets of our solar system.
It is noteworthy that this year the comet's trail will include meteors that fell from it in 1862, 1479 and 1079. In other words, some of the meteors illuminating the Earth's night sky this August were blasted off Comet Swift-Tuttle about 1,000 years ago.
Perseids 2016 – How to See?
The more area of sky you can see, the better it is for meteor shower viewing. Also, if possible, you should go out of town, where there is not much light, and be patient for the next 2-3 hours. It will take your eyes up to approximately 30 minutes to adjust to complete darkness. The more you can wait, the more you can see. 150 meteors per hour gives us, for example, two to three meteors per minute, which will vary in brightness depending on their size.
Also, when going out of town, do not forget to take a comfortable folding chair with you, a little “brake” for a snack, and some kind of insect spray. After that, you can relax and watch the fabulous heavenly show.
The Perseid meteor shower is considered to be one of the most popular and picturesque "star showers". Owing to its existence to the Swift-Tuttle comet, it pleases the inhabitants of the northern hemisphere every year. The peak of the meteor shower is expected from Thursday to Friday and from Friday to Saturday. Moreover, in 2016 the Perseids will be much more intense than before. We talk about how to observe, study and even shoot meteors, as well as other astronomical and atmospheric phenomena in August.
Perseid meteor shower 2016: detailed guide and secrets of observations. Source: gorodkirov.ru
Where and when to watch
Perseid activity begins to rise from August 5, reaching its peak from 11th to 12th(for the European part of Russia) and from the 12th to the 13th of August(for Siberia and the Far East). Increased activity gradually decreases after a peak until August 15, individual meteors can be observed until August 24. During peak days, the number of meteors in 2016 will reach up to 150 per hour - this is the forecast of the International Meteor Organization (IMO). The high growth in the number of observed meteors compared to previous years is due to the fact that this year a part of the stream will pass near our planet, shifted closer to the Earth's orbit and perturbed by the gravitational influence of the giant Jupiter. In addition, on the night of August 12, the Earth will pass near two particle plumes ejected by the Swift-Tuttle comet in 1479 and 1862, which will also increase the intensity of the "star shower". By the way, you can follow the activity of the Perseids online, and the NASA channel will help you watch the stream in real time
It is worth observing the Perseids with the naked eye, limited only to glasses or contact lenses if you have poor eyesight. Binoculars, telescopes, spyglasses do not need to be taken with you - they will only cover most of the sky. Observations can be hindered by bad weather and illumination of large cities and towns. In this case, it is worth going after sunset as far as possible from the city to those places where the lighting tends to zero. fit hills, wastelands, fields at a distance of about 50 km from metropolitan areas. The darker the sky and the wider the view, the more likely it is to see even a faint meteor. The weather and cloud cover can be tracked using the Hydrometeorological Center service.
For a better view, professionals advise you to sit on a sun lounger or lie down directly on the ground, after laying one or two bedspreads. It’s good to take a sleeping bag with you - August nights no longer please with warmth. So, at this time, the air temperature at night in the Leningrad region rarely rises above 12 degrees. Get ready for the fact that you will need to lie / sit for a couple of hours with obligatory breaks of 10 minutes - before it starts to get light. Breaks are needed in order not to lose concentration and warm up, otherwise after an hour it will be difficult to notice most of the meteors.
How to find and observe
Find a constellation Perseus simple enough. It is necessary to find in the sky familiar to everyone big dipper- the constellation resembles a ladle with a handle. If you look a little to the right and slightly up, you will also see one of the brightest and most memorable constellations, which is visible even in the city despite the backlight - Cassiopeia in the form of the letter W. Just below Cassiopeia are four bright stars of Perseus, lined up along one slightly curved line. It is from the point between Cassiopeia and Perseus, called radiant, and the Perseids fly out, leaving a bright and thin strip of light in the sky, disappearing in a couple of seconds. To determine if a meteor is a Perseid, you need to visually continue its track with a straight line. If the line does not cross the radiant, then the meteor has nothing to do with the Perseids and is called sporadic. However, sporadic meteors can be quite bright and impressive.
If you are traveling with a company of several people and want to count the meteors you see, and also understand the stars and constellations, you can use the professional way of observing. Let each viewer of the meteor shower have their own observed sector of the sky, limited by several bright landmark stars. If you are traveling more than 50 km from major cities, feel free to take a SLR camera, a good lens and a tripod with you. There is a detailed guide on shooting any meteor showers.
When meteors are not visible in the sky, you should not be upset. Treat the starry sky as a gift, explore the brightest stars, constellations and even galaxies with the help of special applications. In addition, it is interesting to observe their satellites, which move relative to the "fixed stars" in different directions. In addition, you can see ISS- You can track the International Space Station using the free ISS Spotter app for iOS and the inexpensive ISS Detector Satellite Tracker for Android. That's not all: astronomers are also very fond of satellite flares Iridium, the track of which is different from meteors - short, bright, thickened in the middle, similar in shape to a spindle.
Perhaps there is no such person on our planet who would not like stellar rains. Sometimes they are so beautiful that they simply fascinate with their beauty. It is this astronomical phenomenon that awaits us in August.
2016, like any other year, has an unchanged schedule of meteor showers, as our planet follows the same cosmic route every year. In addition to the planets, there are a huge number of celestial bodies in space, among which asteroids can be distinguished. The passage of our planet through the asteroid belts is no less important for astrological forecasts and horoscopes than the state of the stars. It is important to take into account the energy of an astronomical event, and not its physical meaning.
Perseid meteor shower in 2016
In mid-August, our planet always passes through the Perseid meteor shower. It is quite powerful, since almost every year during periods of peak activity in the Earth's atmosphere, more than 60 meteors burn up. The stream was named after the constellation Perseus, from which cosmic particles appear. By the way, these particles are the product of a comet, which moves in its own special orbit, leaving us "messages". The comet itself flies near our planet only once every 135 years. These particles are made up of ice and dust. Their speed is phenomenal - up to 200 thousand kilometers per second. This is reflected in the visibility in a positive way, since the impact of pieces of a comet into the Earth's atmosphere causes powerful flashes.
In general, the Earth enters the Perseids usually by the 20th of July, and leaves by the 23rd or 25th of August. The peak of activity usually falls on August 12-13. In 2016, people will be able to see the first shooting stars from July 18. On August 12, 2016, the shower will reach 100 meteors per hour, which is a lot compared to other known stellar showers. Almost two "stars" per minute is enough to enjoy the performance. Naturally, this requires a clear sky and remoteness from the city, because even 10 km from the city visibility is much better.
The longest meteor showers, as usual, will be observed in the northern latitudes. Visibility is better there, and the sky is clearer. We are lucky that we are in the northern hemisphere, since the Perseids are almost invisible in the southern.
Astrological forecasts for star rain
The Perseids are the first meteor shower known to be the product of a comet. It is also one of the first meteor showers discovered by astronomers and Chinese sages at the beginning of the first century AD.
In ancient times, people had a great craving for explaining everything that was happening around, and they turned, first of all, to the stars and space. It was then that the first major astrological teachings were born, telling us that any meteor shower is incredibly important for making astrological forecasts. It was customary to perform rituals on the waning moon during starfalls.
The Perseids, like other starfalls associated with the activity of comets, carry warnings for all signs of the zodiac and people in general. The fact is that astrologers have never associated comets with something positive. They always bring us uncertainty and make us impulsive. The same applies to the meteor showers they cause. That is why from the end of July to the end of August 2016, each of us will be a little sharper than usual. At the moments of the greatest activity on August 12-13, 2016, people may experience strange sensations of the presence of a UFO. Flashes, which will appear on average twice a minute, are not associated with aliens, although many eyewitnesses claim to have seen alien ships in the air. This happened in 1992, 1993 and 1997. During these years, the Perseids were very active, so many are skeptical about people's opinion about aliens visiting the Earth.
Clairvoyants and psychics say that meteor showers are the time to create protective talismans against the evil eye, curses and bad luck. Bright flashes drive away evil spirits. This is the time when even at night evil hides from our eyes. Traditional healers during such periods cleanse from negative energy, performing rites of purification from the evil eye, from generic negative programs and curses. In terms of energy, such periods are very strong - you can feel the power of the Universe, which gives us time to correct our mistakes.
Many also predict the future during the Perseids and other similar astrological events. In 2016, the best time for divination for the future will be the period from August 5 to 12. Try to predict future events by peeking behind the curtain before the play begins. We wish you good luck and beautiful starry rain. Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and
01.08.2016 07:00
Every day of the week affects people differently. The energy of the stars and planets allows you to perform daily duties ...
What are Perseids?
This is a meteor shower, a phenomenon that occurs when a swarm of meteoroids burns up in the Earth's atmosphere. It can be compared to driving a car in rainy weather, when drops crash into the windshield - just like comet dust particles crash into the Earth's atmosphere at high speed. Do not confuse a meteor with a meteorite - a cosmic body that fell to the surface of the Earth.
Despite the name "starfall", in fact, nothing falls from the sky, the Perseids are the smallest dust particles of the comet Swift-Tuttle burning in the atmosphere. This phenomenon is repeated annually during the period when the Earth is in the region of its orbit in which it intersects with meteor showers.
What is special about this meteor shower?
Perseids-2016
From year to year, the flow varies in intensity. In 2018, they promise from 80 to 110 meteors per hour - this is slightly less than last year, but the reality may differ from the forecast in any direction. Of course, other meteor showers are also visible throughout the year, but it is the Perseid meteor shower, which happens in warm August, that is best observed. And on the night of August 13, the moon will not light up the sky either.
Should I look for a telescope?
Contrary to popular belief, stargazing does not require optical instruments. On the contrary, it can and should be observed with the naked eye. Binoculars will come in handy if you decide to view the Andromeda galaxy and Jupiter's moons. Meteors can also be photographed: leave the camera at a slow shutter speed and you will get particle tracks against the starry sky.
Where is it worth watching the starfall?
Perseids-2016
In the city limits, starfall is practically invisible. And not all meteors will appear on the outskirts of the eye, only the brightest ones. Therefore, it is best to stock up on hot tea, travel 30–40 km outside the city and find an open area. Then, if the expectations of astronomers are justified, you can see 60-80 meteors per hour. The farther from settlements, the less light pollution - and the more shooting stars you can see.
Grab a blanket or a folding bed, because it is most comfortable to observe the phenomenon lying down: the neck will not numb, and it will be better to see. Standing or sitting, you need to look in the direction opposite to the radiant - this is the name of the point from which meteor particles supposedly fly out. In fact, they fly in parallel, but it seems to us that they take off from this point.
Where to find a radiant?
Planetarium stellarium (free software). Perseid shower radiant
The radiant of the Perseid stream is in the constellation Perseus, it is easy to find it in the sky to the right of Ursa Major, below the constellation Cassiopeia - the same letter W in the sky.
Why is it necessary to watch the falling stars?
Romance, aesthetic pleasure, scientific interest, after all. This is also a unique opportunity to see how our planet moves, because meteor showers are the consequences of the contact between the Earth and a comet. So take your friends, thermoses with tea, blankets and feel how the sky is getting closer.
You can meet astronomer Igor Tirsky at the festival at lectures and master classes as part of the educational program.
The Perseids are perhaps the most famous meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere. There are several reasons for this. This is also a convenient time for observation, because these meteors reach their maximum activity in mid-August, when darkness sets in relatively early, but the nights are still warm and comfortable for late walks in the open air. At the same time, the Perseids are a fairly stable meteor shower, that is, during the maximum activity, the number of falling meteors rarely falls below 60 per hour. For comparison, another relatively stable stream, the Lyrids, rarely has more than 18 meteors per hour, while, for example, the Orionids produce about 25 meteors. This is probably why we remember the August meteor shower when it comes to meteors.
A meteor shower is usually named after the constellation in which its radiant is located. Due to the effect of perspective, the trajectories of cosmic particles moving along almost parallel trajectories towards an observer on Earth will intersect in a small area in the sky. This area, which appears to be the source of the shower's meteors, is called the radiant.
For example, the radiant Leonidas is in the constellation Leo, and the Perseid is in Perseus.
True, sometimes the stream is called by the star closest to the radiant.
The Perseid stream has been known for about 2 thousand years. It is first mentioned in a Chinese chronicle dating back to 36 AD. “More than a hundred meteors flared up in the morning,” an ancient observer recorded. The Perseids are also mentioned in Japanese and Korean sources of the 8th-11th centuries, and in Europe this meteor shower was called “Tears of St. Lawrence”, since the feast of St. Lawrence, which is held in Italy, falls on the most active period of the meteor shower. However, the Belgian mathematician, astronomer and meteorologist Adolf Ketele, who reported his observations in 1835, is officially considered the discoverer of the annual August meteor shower.
The first researcher to calculate the average number of meteors per hour was Edward Hayes. For a long time, the activity of the meteor shower was not very high and fluctuated between 40-90 meteors per hour, but after 1858 the Perseids became more active. For example, in 1863, 215 meteors were recorded per hour. At the same time, the reason for such an increase was also discovered. In mid-July 1862, American scientists Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle discovered a beautiful new comet, which was named Comet Swift-Tuttle. For the rest of the summer, it was clearly visible in the Northern Hemisphere. The comet reached its maximum brightness in the last week of August. And when observed through a telescope, unusual structures were noticeable in it - luminous misty streams diverging from the dense nucleus of a comet, like flower petals.
Comet 109P / Swift-Tuttle was recognized as one of the ten most beautiful comets of the 19th century.
In 1867, the famous Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli (by the way, the one who discovered the Martian channels) announced that the orbit of a recently discovered comet almost coincided with the calculated orbit for several Perseid meteoroids. This is how the idea was born that meteor showers are associated with certain comets. This explained the increased activity of August meteors in the 60s of the XIX century. The fact is that due to the impact of solar radiation at the perihelion of the comet's orbit, matter is intensively lost. Calculations show that the smaller the size of a cometary particle, the easier it is to overcome gravity and start your journey through the solar system. However, the ejection velocity of the cometary material is much less than that of the parent comet. It is not enough for the ejected dust particles to scatter in different directions. As a result, they form a thick plume of particles, sometimes several hundred thousand and even millions of kilometers across. When the Earth crosses such a plume, meteors flare up in the upper atmosphere - particles of cometary matter that burn up in the atmosphere. The flash occurs at an altitude of about 100 km, so that each meteor is visible from the surface of the planet over a large area.
Comet Swift-Tuttle makes one revolution around the Sun in about 133 years. It has a fairly large core with a diameter of 26 km. Recall that the famous comet 67P / Churyumov - Gerasimenko, near which the automatic interplanetary station Rosetta is currently operating, has a much smaller nucleus - only 4 km in diameter. Comet Swift-Tuttle returned the next time after its discovery in 1992. Therefore, in the 1990s, the Perseids were very active. Within an hour, hundreds of meteors flashed in the earth's sky, and there were many very bright shooting stars.
With the removal of the comet to the outskirts of the solar system, the activity of the Perseids gradually decreased until it entered its usual course - about 60 meteors per hour.
At the same time, the stream remains one of the most stable and beautiful, but the former abundance of shooting stars, which many remember from childhood, is gone. Especially if you try to make observations near large urban centers, where the night sky is never dark enough.
But the Perseids can still surprise. In ordinary years, the meteor shower is, as it were, outside the Earth's orbit at some distance. But periodically, under the influence of the gravity of the giant planets, this distance can change. In 2016, a section of the flow will pass near the Earth, perturbed by the gravitational influence of Jupiter and shifted closer to the Earth's orbit. According to the forecast International Meteor Organization (IMO), the number of meteors will reach 150 per hour! Not star rain, of course, but much more than in previous years. Moreover, on the night of August 12, the Earth will pass within a very short distance of the two particle plumes ejected by the comet during the flybys of 1479 and 1862.
The particles of both plumes will most likely overlap each other, which will also slightly increase the activity of the stream as a whole.
The maximum activity of the meteor shower will come on the night of August 13th. But you can start observing now. According to IMO The Perseids are increasingly entering the Earth's atmosphere. It is best to make observations on the night of August 12 and 13. Observations of meteors are just that rare case in astronomy when we do not need any additional instruments. Binoculars and spyglasses limit the field of view and will actually only get in the way. You just need to choose a place for observations, located away from bright light sources and giving a fairly large view of the sky. It can be in a field, on a hill, on a large edge of a forest, or on the shore of a lake. In the conditions of the city, you can go to the park or to the wasteland. And when using a camera on a tripod, you can get beautiful pictures of the starry sky with many meteors.
