Reports for the night of August 11/12 reveal the Perseids were producing between 15 and 25 meteors per hour according to observers who were patiently watching during the hours after midnight. Some observers noted the display seemed to include fainter than normal meteors, which is interesting since there were reports from Italy a few hours before noting several very bright fireballs, one of which rivaled the brightness of the full moon!
Maximum for the Perseids will occur during the afternoon hours today (August 12) for the United States. Although observers in Asia and Europe are better situated for the peak (since it will occur during the hours of darkness for them), activity should still be strong enough in the US to produce 30-50 meteors per hour tonight.
Several observers have reported that another meteor shower, called the Kappa Cygnids, is already showing activity. This minor shower does not peak until the night of August 17/18 and, although the hourly rates are never very high, they are notable because of occasional very slow, bright fireballs. The speed is definitely a strong contrast to the very fast speed of the Perseids. The Kappa Cygnids originate from the constellation Cygnus, also called the "Northern Cross." This area is nearly directly overhead around 10:00 p.m….moving toward the east as the night progresses.
Other meteor radiants which peaked in late July and early August are also still active. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will occasionally note slow, sometimes yellowish meteors coming from the southern part of the sky. These are generally leftovers from the Delta Aquarid and Capricornid meteor showers.
Once again, to enjoy the meteor activity tonight, grab a reclining lawn chair, get away from lights, and just look straight up. There is no one spot in the sky where meteors will appear, but to see as many meteors as possible, you want an unobstructed view of the sky.
For more info: Check out Gary W. Kronk's Meteor Showers Online web page at http://meteorshowersonline.com/perseids.html.
Comments
We're seeing them pretty well in the city. Thanks for update on the upcoming Kappa Cygnids.
Could someone please suggest a few good places to go to view the shower? Hopefully no more than an hour or so from the city...thanks!
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