Perseid Meteor Shower Tonight!

"I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." -Galileo

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The peak viewing hours for the Perseid Meteors will be beginning tonight, August 12! We are heading to the mountains and away from city lights to check them out! However, it has been cloudy and rainy today in our area so we may need a wish from a falling star for some clear skies tonight!

 

Here are some great tips for optimal viewing:

• Get away from the city lights! The less light pollution the better and more brilliant the shooting stars.

• The best time for viewing the meteor shower will be between midnight and 5 A.M.

• Choose an area where the sky has a limited amount of obstructions along the horizon.

• The meteor shower originates from the constellation, Perseus. If you recline with your feet pointed south and look straight up, the meteors will appear to come from over your left shoulder.

• Keep your eyes on the sky! Your eyes will adjust to the dark after about 20-30 minutes.

• Don't stare in only one spot! If you keep your eyes moving slowly around the sky, there is a greater chance you will catch a shooting star!

Also, get involved with the global Twitter Meteor watch hosted by the Newbury Astronomical Society in the UK.

Follow and/or use the hashtag #meteorwatch to join in the fun! 

Another great site for fellow sky watchers is Sky and Telescope!  They have all the latest sky gazing news as well as diagrams for The Week's Sky at a Glance.