IF you missed the peak of the Perseid meteor shower during the week – fear not.
Although the display was the most dramatic between August 11 and 13, with up to 100 shooting stars per hour, there are still more to come.
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Some skywatchers in northern English counties such as Northumberland, as well as parts of Scotland, Wales and Ireland, have even seen a dual display of the Perseids and the Northern Lights.
Although Monday night’s strong geomagnetic storm has subsided, the Perseids will continue.
The annual meteor shower is the debris left behind from comet Swift-Tuttle, which occurs every 20 to 200 years.
It was last seen in 1992 and in 1862 and 1737 respectively.
The average speed of a Perseid meteor is about 36 miles per second, which will decorate the sky with fast, bright meteor trains.
Perseid (Per-see-id) is “one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky between July and August,” according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
Although the rain peaked this weekend, it will be active until August 24th.
Auroras – how do they work?
Here’s NASA’s official explanation…
- The dancing lights of the auroras provide spectacular views of the ground, but they also capture the imagination of scientists who study the energy and particles arriving from the sun.
- Auroras are an effect of these energetic particles, which can leave the Sun either in a constant stream called the solar wind or due to giant eruptions known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs.
- After a journey toward Earth that can last two to three days, solar particles and magnetic fields trigger the release of particles already trapped near Earth, which in turn trigger reactions in the upper atmosphere in which oxygen and nitrogen molecules release photons of light.
- The result: the northern and southern lights.
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Best places to watch
The meteor shower, which began on July 17, is best seen between midnight and 5:30 am – when the sky is darkest.
There are many locations across the UK where you can see the Perseids and future meteor showers this month.
Typically, rural locations are best – but that doesn’t mean you can’t spot shooting stars in and around London.
Lake District National Park – North West England
The Lake District, a popular holiday destination in the United Kingdom, boasts mountainous terrain and lakeside views.
However, it also benefits from low levels of light pollution and is therefore an excellent destination for viewing shooting stars – as long as the night is clear.
Exmoor National Park – South West England
The Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve, Europe’s first Dark Sky Reserve, is virtually free of light pollution.
Some say it has the darkest skies in the country, which is perfect for capturing cosmic displays.
Although it is important to remember how the Moon influences the brightness of the sky.
It is best to watch the stars when the Moon is waxing.
The Park also has several campsites and accommodations that are Dark Sky Friendly, so you can witness shooting stars from the comfort of your campsite.
Snowdonia National Park – Wales
Snowdonia National Park, home to Wales’ highest peak, covers around 18% of the country’s land area.
So it’s safe to say there is minimal light pollution and as a result it has some of the best stargazing in the UK.
There are also many places to stay where stargazers can stay.
Hampstead Heath and Observatory
Hampstead Heath, one of the highest points in London, is also home to one of the capital’s largest parks.
This means the area could be good for escaping some of the city’s light pollution – and capturing some shooting stars.
It is also home to the Hampstead Observatory, which is open to the public every Friday and Saturday evening from mid-September to mid-April – depending on the weather.
What is a meteor shower?
Here’s what you need to know…
- During a meteor shower, fireballs appear to streak across the sky
- This happens because pieces of debris burn quickly as they enter Earth’s atmosphere.
- This debris is often left behind by a collision between two space objects, such as a planet or comet.
- The Orionid shower is debris from Halley’s Comet, a huge chunk of ice that orbits the Sun
- Many meteor showers recur
- They occur at a height of about 62 miles
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Rules of thumb
It’s important to note that the Perseids can be harder to spot during the longer summer nights.
Here are four tips for giving yourself the best chance of seeing them:
Avoid light pollution
Stargazers should go to a location well away from city lights, city glare, and even street lamps.
“This could mean going to the countryside, a nearby park or even doing something as simple as turning your back to streetlights if you can’t go anywhere,” advises the Royal Greenwich Observatory.
Put away the phone
You must give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness so you can see the fainter meteors.
This means you need to turn off your phone screen.
Unobstructed view
Make sure your stargazing location has an unobstructed view of the horizon and above.
Away from trees or cityscapes is best.
“Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, so the more sky you can see, the better,” adds the Observatory.
Ditch the binoculars
You won’t need binoculars to spot shooting stars.
They can also limit your view of the sky, and when trying to get a closer look, you may miss all the action that’s happening outside of the frame.
What is the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet?
Here’s what you need to know, according to NASA…
- Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter), but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that could impact Earth).
- Meteoroid: When two asteroids collide, the small pieces that break off are called meteoroids.
- Meteor: If a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to vaporize and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it will look like a ray of light in the sky because the rock is burning
- Meteorite: If a meteoroid doesn’t completely vaporize and survive the trip through Earth’s atmosphere, it could land on Earth. At that point it becomes a meteorite
- Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However, instead of being made mostly of rock, a comet contains a lot of ice and gas, which can result in incredible tails forming behind them (thanks to the vaporization of the ice and dust ).
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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