How to watch Perseid meteor shower in Ireland as celestial event to peak
The magnificent display will reach its peak from August 11 until August 13, with sky-watchers hopefully able to catch a glimpse of up to 60 meteors every hour.
The meteor shower comes around this time every year and is the result of debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet, which itself comes every 20 to 200 years and was last spotted back in 1992.
The meteor shower has been active since late July and is expected to be visible until August 23. Here is everything you need to know to catch a glimpse of the shower: What are the Perseids?
The Perseid meteor shower has been seen for around 2,000 years. The Perseids are named after the location the meteors appear to stream to Earth from, the constellation of Perseus.
The celestial event occurs when Earth passes through a cloud of dust left behind by the Comet Swift-Tuttle. Fragments enter into the Earth's atmosphere at speeds as great as 130,000 mph, which causes the air in front of the debris to heat up. A meteor from the 2016 Perseid meteor shower streaks across the night sky above some pine trees in the Cleveland National Forest. Mount Laguna, San Diego County, California. USA How can I watch the meteor shower?
The best way to watch the meteor shower will be to head to an area that has fewer city lights and very little light pollution so the sky is dark. Heading to the countryside or away from street lights and tree tops could be the perfect way to get a great view.
Thankfully, you do not need any special equipment to view the shower, with binoculars possibly even hindering your view of the sky.
The perfect time to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower is when the sky is at its darkest, which will be between midnight and 5.30am as the shower peaks. Check sunset and rise times here.
When you find the perfect spot, give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark so that you can catch more of the fainter meteors.
Also give yourself at least an hour of observing time, because the meteors in meteor showers come in spurts and are interspersed with lulls.
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Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
How to watch Perseid meteor shower in Ireland as celestial event to peak
Stargazers are in for a treat over the coming days as a stunning Perseid meteor shower peaks over Irish skies. The magnificent display will reach its peak from August 11 until August 13, with sky-watchers hopefully able to catch a glimpse of up to 60 meteors every hour. The meteor shower comes around this time every year and is the result of debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet, which itself comes every 20 to 200 years and was last spotted back in 1992. The meteor shower has been active since late July and is expected to be visible until August 23. Here is everything you need to know to catch a glimpse of the shower: What are the Perseids? The Perseid meteor shower has been seen for around 2,000 years. The Perseids are named after the location the meteors appear to stream to Earth from, the constellation of Perseus. The celestial event occurs when Earth passes through a cloud of dust left behind by the Comet Swift-Tuttle. Fragments enter into the Earth's atmosphere at speeds as great as 130,000 mph, which causes the air in front of the debris to heat up. A meteor from the 2016 Perseid meteor shower streaks across the night sky above some pine trees in the Cleveland National Forest. Mount Laguna, San Diego County, California. USA How can I watch the meteor shower? The best way to watch the meteor shower will be to head to an area that has fewer city lights and very little light pollution so the sky is dark. Heading to the countryside or away from street lights and tree tops could be the perfect way to get a great view. Thankfully, you do not need any special equipment to view the shower, with binoculars possibly even hindering your view of the sky. The perfect time to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower is when the sky is at its darkest, which will be between midnight and 5.30am as the shower peaks. Check sunset and rise times here. When you find the perfect spot, give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark so that you can catch more of the fainter meteors. Also give yourself at least an hour of observing time, because the meteors in meteor showers come in spurts and are interspersed with lulls. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Irish Sun
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- The Irish Sun
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