THE Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak in the early hours of next Monday (12)but it is already visible in the night sky throughout this weekend. The phenomenon can be observed from almost all of Brazil, with the exception of Rio Grande do Sul.
A meteor shower occurs when the Earth crosses a region with a large concentration of comet debris. Upon reaching contact with the atmosphere at high speed, these fragments combust, leaving a luminous trail that forms “shooting stars”.
Visible every year at this same time, the Perseids are composed of fragments of comet Swift-Tuttle. And they get their name in reference to the place where the phenomenon can be seen in the sky, the constellation of Perseus.
How to observe the Perseid meteor shower?
The meteor shower occurs close to the constellation Perseus, which appears close to the horizon, in a northerly direction, just before dawn. The best time to see the rain is between 4am and 5am.
Although the peak occurs on Monday (12), it should also be possible to see the meteors a few days before and a few days after.
Tips for seeing a meteor shower
- Find one dark, secluded viewing spot away from city lights. Once there, your eyes may take 15 to 20 minutes to get used to the dark (in other words, don’t check your cell phone, as the brightness of the screen in your eyes will interfere with observation.
- Take a blanket if it’s cold there or a comfortable chair with you, as meteor watching involves the waiting time.
- Once you’ve found your observation spot, lie down on the ground and look up at the sky. An interactive map made available by astronomy applications should help find the direction of the radiant. The higher it is above the horizon line, the more meteors you are likely to see.
- Meteor showers usually originate at the point where the radiant is located, but they can be seen anywhere in the sky.
Check it out here astronomy apps to help locate and track astronomical phenomena in the night sky.
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