Meteor showers are a wonderful show. A more than perfect excuse to look at the sky in the company of loved ones and enjoy a phenomenon that shows us, once again, that apart from living on a beautiful planet, we are privileged to be able to contemplate part of the beauty of the Milky Way.
Some of the most anticipated are Perseids, also known by the name of Tears of San Lorenzo, named for the proximity of the San Lorenzo festival, which is celebrated on August 10. Are you ready to see up to 100 meteors per hour? No? Well here are a few tips to make that night (or nights ) unforgettable.
What are the Perseids?
The Perseids is a falling star shower (or meteor shower) visible each year around mid-late AugustThe particles that cause them are produced by the Swift-Tuttle comet, which measures 26 km in diameter and orbits at 60 km/s. This phenomenon is one of the most anticipated meteor showers, and if you want to know more about them, you can check out this article about the rain of stars.
Why do they occur every year around the same dates? As well. As we know, the planet Earth rotates on itself but also around the Sun. This last movement is called translation. Due to this annual spin, the Earth encounters the same accumulation of particles that form the Perseids. For those looking for more information on other similar events, you can read about the Gemini.
How to enjoy them to the fullest?
The Perseids 2017 will take place from July 13 to August 26, however, the best days to see them in Europe will be from August 11 to 13The problem is that this year the moon won't allow us to see them as we would really like, since on the key night (August 11) it will be at 72%. To learn more about the ideal dates and conditions for observing other events, you can check out this guide on Shooting Stars.
Still, we cannot forget that while the moon is a very bright satellite, the Perseids are too. So despite everything we recommend that get as far away as possible from light pollution, take a chair (or better, a lounger or towel), and start watching the sky from 19:XNUMX p.m.. For those who wish to observe this spectacle in more detail, some astronomical binoculars they may be a good option.
Have a good hunt
