The Perseid meteor Shower

Society Meeting

Thursday, 10th August 2023 (19:45 - 22:00)

Venue: Hybrid

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most popular and highly anticipated meteor showers of the year. It occurs annually from late July to mid-August, with the peak usually occurring around August 11-13. During this time, viewers can expect to see up to 60-100 meteors per hour.

The Perseid meteor shower is caused by debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle. As the Earth passes through the comet's debris field, the small particles, typically no larger than a grain of sand, collide with our atmosphere at speeds of up to 132,000 miles per hour. The friction between the particles and the atmosphere causes them to heat up and vaporize, producing the characteristic streaks of light that we see as meteors.

The Perseid meteor shower is named after the constellation Perseus, from which the meteors appear to originate. However, viewers don't need to look directly at the constellation to see the meteors; they can appear anywhere in the sky.

To get the best view of the Perseid meteor shower, it's recommended to find a dark location away from city lights. The best time to view the shower is usually after midnight and before dawn when the sky is darkest. It's also important to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness, which can take up to 20-30 minutes.

Overall, the Perseid meteor shower is a popular and exciting celestial event that can be enjoyed by amateur and professional astronomers alike.

Join the meeting online HERE if you can't attend in person

Speaker: Phil Muffett

Learn more about Phil Muffett