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It's time to get ready for the annual Perseid meteor shower!
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Alright, kids, it’s time to gird your loins and get thee prepared for the best annual astronomical thrill show of the year -- the Perseid meteor showers which grace our night skies every August 12.
NASA scientist Dr. Bill Cook said this year’s meteor showers are predicted to have twice the number of blazing streaks across a backdrop of stars than in previous years. Another huge plus: the moon will not be in full phase, and thus moonlight will not wash out the night sky, making the meteors more visible.
Meteor showers occur every August 12 because the earth passes through the debris tail of the very “dirty” Comet Swift-Tuttle, that passed through our solar system in the year 1610. It left behind a large number of “chunks” floating around in this particular corridor of space.
So the meteors you’ll be seeing are actually cast off bits of junk from an ancient comet -- I don’t know how it gets cooler than that! The reason the showers are called the “Perseids” is because they tend to emanate from the constellation Perseus, which is in the northeast portion of the night sky.
I observed my first Perseid shower 43 years ago, and became an addicted stargazer for life. I remember staying up all night (I was only 7 years old, so thanks to my mom for letting me camp out in the dark of the backyard without going to bed all night!) and being blown away time after time as a magnificent rock from space came streaking across the sky, sometimes even leaving faint trails of smoke.
I have waited anxiously every year after that for that glorious day -- August 12 -- and the only Perseid showers I have missed in the past 43 years are those night when clouds cruelly covered the sky, blocking out the celestial show. (Pray for clear skies August 12!)
Most the meteors you will see will be quick tiny greenish “zips” of light -- but, if you’re lucky, you’ll be treated to an occasional big fire ball -- or if you are really super lucky, you will see a “bolide” -- and exploding meteor! That’s right! Sometimes the bigger meteors break up on their plunge to the earth.
In my many years of meteor shower observing, I’ve been treated to more than one bolide. On a few occasions, I have even heard a faint “crack” as the space rock breaks up in the atmosphere, and then sends a multiple trails of fiery streaks.
The great thing about the Perseids is that you don’t need any special equipment, such as a telescope or binoculars. Nay, verily, I say to you, this is strictly a naked eye spectacle! Your most important pieces of “equipment” will be a comfy lawn chair, maybe some mosquito lotions and a blanket -- and hey, why not, how about a pitcher of margaritas?
Another tip: If you live in a large urban area, you will be much better off if you travel to an outlying area in the country where there is little light pollution. In fact, if you live within a city, the streetlights will probably block out 80 or 90 percent of most of the meteors.
But if you need to make a drive to darker skies, why not bring along some friends and make a party of it? Take it from me, an experienced amateur astronomer, few things are more fun than a star party -- except for perhaps a meteor shower party!
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