Perseid meteor shower to peak tonight: When and how to see it from India
The shower's activity will be at its highest during the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, August 14, especially between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM. However, eager viewers may catch glimpses of meteors as early as 10:00 PM on August 13, with the frequency ramping up through the night.This year, skywatchers must contend with a bright waning gibbous Moon, which is expected to wash out fainter meteors and reduce average visibility to 15–25 meteors per hour, rather than the full 100 of dark-sky years.Despite this, the Perseids remain visible with the naked eye, especially from locations with minimal light pollution.
The Perseids occur each year as Earth passes through debris left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. (Photo: Getty)
HOW TO WATCH PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWERChoose a Dark Spot: Leave city lights behind, rural locations or out-of-town terraces are best.Get Comfortable: Bring a blanket or chair and dress for pre-dawn temperatures.Be Patient: Let your eyes adjust for at least 15–20 minutes in the dark. Avoid screens.Look Up and North: The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, just below Cassiopeia in the northeast, but meteors can flash across any part of the sky.Check Local Weather: Clear, moonless skies will greatly improve your chances.Even with fewer visible meteors due to moonlight, the Perseids are set to offer an enthralling cosmic display for those willing to sacrifice a night's sleep.For those unable to travel or contend with cloudy skies, live streams such as the Virtual Telescope Project will offer online viewing alternatives.- Ends
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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
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Perseids meteor shower tonight: Here's how to watch rare sight and Northern Lights
The night sky promises an extraordinary display tonight, August 13, as one of the year's brightest meteor showers, the Perseids, coincides with possible sightings of the northern lights. The Perseids, known for their fast and brilliant fireballs, are caused by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle burning up in Earth's atmosphere. At the same time, auroral activity may occur thanks to ongoing solar winds interacting with Earth's magnetic field, reported People. Where and when to watch the Perseids and Northern Lights. (Owen Humphreys/PA) When to watch the Perseids According to another CNN report, the Perseids peaked earlier on Tuesday afternoon, but the best viewing opportunities come tonight in the early hours of Wednesday. There are two main windows for catching meteors: Evening Window (Aug. 12–13): Between dusk and moonrise, there's roughly an hour of darker skies before the bright waning gibbous moon rises. Pre-Dawn Window (Aug. 13): The last couple of hours before sunrise offer another chance. While the moon will still be bright, the most luminous meteors can be spotted by facing north toward the constellation Perseus. This year's full moon glow will limit visibility to around 10-20 meteors per hour instead of the usual 40-50, but bright fireballs will still stand out, the CNN report added. Also read: Atlas may not be a typical comet, could be alien mission, says Harvard physicist When and where to see the Northern Lights The People report cited NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, solar wind streams from multiple coronal holes are boosting auroral potential with the Kp index expected to reach about 3.67. While the chance of a minor G1 geomagnetic storm is slowly declining, northern regions like Alaska and northern Canada could see shimmering auroras tonight if the skies are dark and clear. Other celestial sights tonight In addition to meteors and auroras, skywatchers can spot Venus and Jupiter, which are still close after a conjunction, shining brightly in the eastern sky before sunrise, the CNN report stated. Saturn will also be rising before midnight near the moon, which will add to the night's spectacle. Viewing tips Find a dark site far away from city lights. Your eyes will need nearly half an hour to get accustomed to the dark environment. Look north for auroras; celestial objects around 40° over Perseus herald meteor activity. Make sure you are dressed for the cold and bring a blanket or chair. Be patient, as the very best shows can take their time. FAQs What causes the Perseids? They are fragments from Comet Swift-Tuttle burning up in Earth's atmosphere at high speeds. Why is the meteor count lower this year? The bright moonlight washes out fainter meteors. Where can I see the northern lights? Best chances are in far northern regions such as Alaska and northern Canada. When is the next big meteor shower? The Orionids, peaking October 22–23, will be the next major celestial event.
India Today
3 days ago
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Nasa to build nuclear reactor on the Moon: Is it possible by 2030?
The United States, led by Nasa, has set its sights on a lunar first, building a nuclear reactor on the Moon by bold initiative comes amid an intensifying space race with China and Russia, both of which have revealed similar ambitions for lunar nuclear power in the coming project aims to create a reliable energy source for future moon bases, enabling extended human habitation and supporting advanced research far from NUCLEAR POWER ON THE MOON?advertisement Solar power, long the default for space missions, faces major limitations on the lunar day-night lasts about four Earth weeks, two weeks of continuous sunlight followed by two weeks of complete darkness, making uninterrupted solar energy impossible without massive, impractical agree that nuclear fission is currently the only viable technology to ensure consistent power for habitats, life-support systems, experiments, and potential lunar target design is a compact reactor capable of generating around 100 kilowatts, enough to power approximately 80 homes on Earth. While much smaller than terrestrial nuclear plants, it would mark a huge leap from the few hundred watts delivered by current space-based nuclear AND LOGISTICAL CHALLENGESBuilding and deploying a reactor on the Moon brings daunting technical hurdles. The system must be lightweight enough for rocket transport, robust enough to survive the lunar landing, and engineered for remote assembly and activation in harsh conditions without atmosphere or reliable cooling are adapting proven technologies, transitioning from traditional terrestrial reactors to modular, autonomous fission systems capable of withstanding wild temperature swings and micrometeorite safety is crucial, too. The reactor would likely launch in an unirradiated state, minimising risks during transit. Once operational, management of radioactive waste and decommissioning processes must comply with international space treaties to protect celestial bodies from contamination. Designers are adapting proven technologies, transitioning from traditional terrestrial reactors to modular. (Photo: Getty) IS THE 2030 TIMELINE FEASIBLE?Experts say the 2030 deadline is ambitious yet achievable, if enough funding and political backing engineering is possible; prototypes of compact, remote-ready reactors already exist, and Nasa has awarded contracts for lunar reactor design since fluctuating agency budgets, legal complexities, and the inherent risks of space nuclear operations could slow progress. The American space agency is going through a period of intense insecurity with major budget cuts under the Donald Trump administration, followed by mass space agency is also facing a brain drain as scientists and engineers remain uncertain over employment at the multiple affiliated organisations of Nasa. Experts say the 2030 deadline is ambitious yet achievable. (Photo: AP) THE BIGGER PICTUREThis moonshot isn't just about energy. The first nation to establish a nuclear reactor on the Moon could gain a strategic edge in the competition for extraterrestrial resources and future Mars successful, America's lunar reactor would stand as a centerpiece in sustaining humanity's future off-Earth, a challenge that is truly monumental but now, remarkably, within reach.- EndsMust Watch
India Today
3 days ago
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Perseid meteor shower to peak tonight: When and how to see it from India
Skywatchers across India have a rare treat in store this week as the Perseid meteor shower, one of the year's most spectacular celestial events, reaches its peak overnight from August 12 to for producing fast, bright meteors and occasional fireballs, this annual shower consistently fascinates astronomers and stargazers Perseids occur each year as Earth passes through debris left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. As the cometary fragments slam into Earth's atmosphere at speeds of up to 59km/sec, they burn up and create glowing streaks across the sky, delighting viewers with up to 100 meteors per hour in ideal TO SEE IT IN INDIA? The shower's activity will be at its highest during the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, August 14, especially between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM. However, eager viewers may catch glimpses of meteors as early as 10:00 PM on August 13, with the frequency ramping up through the year, skywatchers must contend with a bright waning gibbous Moon, which is expected to wash out fainter meteors and reduce average visibility to 15–25 meteors per hour, rather than the full 100 of dark-sky this, the Perseids remain visible with the naked eye, especially from locations with minimal light pollution. The Perseids occur each year as Earth passes through debris left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. (Photo: Getty) HOW TO WATCH PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWERChoose a Dark Spot: Leave city lights behind, rural locations or out-of-town terraces are Comfortable: Bring a blanket or chair and dress for pre-dawn Patient: Let your eyes adjust for at least 15–20 minutes in the dark. Avoid Up and North: The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, just below Cassiopeia in the northeast, but meteors can flash across any part of the Local Weather: Clear, moonless skies will greatly improve your with fewer visible meteors due to moonlight, the Perseids are set to offer an enthralling cosmic display for those willing to sacrifice a night's those unable to travel or contend with cloudy skies, live streams such as the Virtual Telescope Project will offer online viewing alternatives.- Ends
