“A wish flashes across the sky, trailed by blinding glory. Eyes closed, breaths held, it vanishes within a flash”-Christine Tabaka
Perseid is a prolific meteor shower related to the comet Swift-Tuttle. The meteors are called the Perseids because the purpose from which they appear to hail (called the radiant)within the constellation Perseus.
All meteors associated with one particular shower have similar orbits, and that they all appear to come back from the identical place within the skycom, called the radiant. Meteor showers take their name from the placement of the radiant. The Perseid radiant within the constellation Perseus.
When do these Perseids atmospheric phenomena occur?
The Perseid meteor shower occurs per annum in August, with activity usually peaking around the 12th or 13th of the month. Long summer nights are ideal for meteor shower-spotting, and also the Perseids can often reach a zenithal hourly rate of 100.
This is the number of meteors you would possibly expect to determine during peak activity from a dark location under perfect conditions, and so the actual number to be seen on a given night is probably going to be less.
Why is that this phenomenon so special?
The Perseid meteor shower is commonly the foremost spectacular of the year, offering a high chance of spotting a celestial fireball burning across the sky. The shower is visible per annum during August, as this may end up to be the best time to enjoy meteor-spotting.
Factors affecting meteor shower observation
Weather and also the phases of the Moon are also important factors to consider, as cloudy skies or a bright full of the Moon will affect of what percentage you’ll be able to see within the night sky.
The annual Perseid meteor shower occurs as Earth passes through the trail of debris left behind by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The comet orbits our Solar System on an elliptical path that takes it periodically close to Earth. Its last close flyby of our planet was in 1992.
Due to the position of the comet’s debris trail, it can be easily tormented by the gravitational influence of Jupiter and another giant plan
The Perseid meteor shower is often considered to be commonly the best meteor showers of the year due to its high rates and pleasant late-summer temperatures.
Timings for observation
Dates: 17 July 2020-24 August 2020
Peak:12-13 August 2020( Upto 150 meteors per hour)
Parent: 109P Swift Tuttle
Where: Northern Hemisphere
Below table can be referred for finding the position of a meteor shower and radiant-:
| Time | Azimuth/Direction | Altitute |
| Wed 20:30 | 18° | 0.8° |
| Wed 21:30 | 24° | 5.4° |
| Wed 22:30 | 29° | 11.4° |
| Wed 23:30 | 33° | 18.3° |
| Thu 00:30 | 36° | 25.9° |
| Thu 01:30 | 36° | 33.8° |
| Thu 02:30 | 35° | 41.6° |
| Thu 03:30 | 30° | 48.8° |
| Thu 04:30 | 22° | 54.7° |
| Thu 05:30 | 9° | 58.4° |
Things you need for meteor shower observation
Well! The good thing is we do not need any special equipment or skills to look at the meteor shower. Although all you need is a clear sky, lots of patience, and a sky map. Follow some of the following things for amazing observation experience-:
- Find a peaceful viewing spot, away from the city lights. Once at the venue, your eyes may take 15 to 20 minutes to get adjusted to the dark.
- Dress for the weather, and confirm you’re comfortable, especially if you plan to stay out long. Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair with you—meteor watching can be a waiting game.
- Once you have got your viewing spot, lie down on the ground and look up in the direction of the radiant.
- Use Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map to search out the current direction of the radiant in the sky.
Astrophotographs of Meteor Shower-:
“Just carry your telescope and curiosity with you to
Happy viewing!!
