Latest news with #PerseidMeteorShower
Yahoo
3 days ago
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Perseid Meteor Shower has started, here's what you need to know
(WJET/WFXP)– One of the best meteor showers visible to the naked eye has begun in the northern hemisphere, with large fireballs and long wakes of light across the sky able to be seen. The Perseid Meteor Shower, considered by NASA as one of the best of the year, started Thursday night and will be able to be seen until August 23, peaking around August 12 and 13. Perseid meteor shower set to begin: How to view NASA said stargazers can see 50 to 100 meteors per hour during the peak, with bright meteors swiftly streaking across the sky, frequently leaving long 'wakes' of light and color behind them as they burn up in the atmosphere, which can last longer than typical meteor streaks. The Perseid Meteor Shower is primarily known for its fireballs, which are meteors that burn brighter than Venus, that fly through Earth's atmosphere at about 37 miles per second, according to NASA. The fireballs originate from larger particles of the 109P/Swift-Tuttle Comet, a comet discovered in 1862 and twice the size of the comet theorized to have killed the dinosaurs, which are brighter than other meteors with an apparent magnitude, or brightness, level of -3. For context, the brightness of a full moon is measured at -10 apparent magnitude on average, and the sun at -26.7. Perseid meteor shower begins: Here's the best time to watch it NASA said the Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the pre-dawn hours, though at times it is possible to view meteors from this shower as early as 10 p.m. If you can't see the peak of the shower, don't fret, the DCNR said, leading up to the 2024 meteor shower, that you can still get a glimpse of the shower in the nights leading up to and after the peak. With that in mind, we compiled the following tips to help get an out-of-this-world view of the shower: Find a dark area with an open sky; light pollution from buildings and streetlights creates light pollution, making the shower less visible. No equipment is necessary; anyone hoping to get a glimpse of the shower can do so with the naked eye, although binoculars can still help Prepare your eyes for looking at the dark night sky for about 20 minutes so they're properly adjusted. Use a red light to get a better view around you so you don't spoil the adjustment your eyes made for the night sky Bring something comfy to sit in and something warm to wear if it's cold that night Get a stargazing resource or attend a stargazing event to help identify features in the night sky Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
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Kalamazoo Astronomical Society hosts free observing sessions
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — From April through October, visitors to the Kalamazoo Nature Center can join the local Kalamazoo Astronomical Society's public observing sessions and learn more about the night sky. 'We've been at the nature center for probably over 30 years now,' Richard Bell, president of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, said. 'Since before I've been in the club.' Everything you need to know about the Perseid meteor shower Families and amateur astronomers join Bell and his fellow society members at KNC's 'Owl Observatory,' a 12-foot by 12-foot building with a retractable roof. 'The observatory itself has a 16-inch telescope that we just put in September of 2019,' Bell said. 'Riding on top is a 4-inch refracting telescope that we use for wider field views.' These telescopes are capable of seeing astronomical objects some million or more light-years away and folks are encouraged to bring along their own telescopes for tips and advice from volunteers. 'There's nothing better than one-on-one interaction out in the field,' Bell said. 'Where you can learn how to set it up, properly align it and actually find stuff in the sky.' On Saturday, the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society will be featuring 'The Summer Triangle,' a special cluster of some of the brightest stars in the sky during this time of year. 'The Summer Triangle is an 'asterism,' kind of like an unofficial group of stars,' Bell said. 'It's visible throughout the summer and well into the fall.' Themes for public observing sessions depend on the season and circumstances of the Earth's rotation. In the fall, astronomers can identify the Andromeda galaxy. In the spring, they can see the Virgo star cluster. Astronomers capture the birth of planets around a baby sun outside our solar system 'I try to step aside and do a constellation tour for everyone,' Bell said. 'Basically, a planetarium show but under the real sky so it's much, much better.' Public observing sessions at the Owl Observatory in Kalamazoo are free to the public. Two more will take place this summer on Aug. 16 and Aug. 30. For more information on stargazing in West Michigan, visit the . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
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3 days ago
- Science
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Can you see the Perseid meteor shower in Illinois? Here's how to view the summer phenomenon
Night owls in Illinois may have a chance to view a popular summer meteor shower over the next few weeks. Here's what how to catch it. What is the Perseid meteor shower? According to the American Meteor Society, this celestial event is the most popular meteor shower. Particles are released from a comet named 109P/Swift-Tuttle as it returns to the inner solar system. The name "Perseid" comes from Perseus, the constellation near where the meteors appear to originate at maximum activity. When is the Perseid meteor shower? The shower is active now, and skywatchers might catch it starting at around 11 p.m. According to it's active from mid-July through late August and will peak overnight between Aug. 12 and 13. When is the best time to see the Perseids? The best time to view the Perseids is between midnight and dawn, according to the the American Meteor Society. A good day to view them is Thursday, July 24, the same day as the full moon, according to the Farmers' Almanac. This will make the night skies darker and optimal for stargazing. Another good day to see the Perseids is on Wednesday, July 30, because two other meteor showers, alpha Capricornids and Southern delta Aquariids, will be happening at the same time, according to Robert Lunsford, the American Meteor Society's newsletter editor and fireball report coordinator. Can I see the Perseid meteor shower in Illinois? It's possible — the phenomenon is most visible from the northern hemisphere, according to the American Meteor Society. Its peak is close to the Aug. 9 full moon, so moonlight could affect viewing. The American Meteor Society predicted the moon will be at 84% full at the meteor shower's peak. Other astronomical events to check out in July 2025 If you plan on observing the sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for July 2025: July 21 & 22 – Moon, Venus & Jupiter – You can find the crescent moon and the planet Venus toward the east in the morning sky. With a clear view toward the horizon you can also spot Jupiter low in the sky. July 28 – Moon & Mars – The crescent Moon appears right next to Mars after sunset. All month – Constellation: Aquila – You can spot the Eagle constellation, Aquila, in the eastern part of the sky during the first half of the night, writes NASA. Its brightest star, Altair, is the southernmost star in the Summer Triangle, which is an easy-to-locate star pattern in Northern Hemisphere summer skies. All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south. Find stars, planets and constellations with these free astronomy apps The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play for iPhone | Google Play When is the August 2025 full moon? The full Sturgeon Moon should reach peak illumination by Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. Julia Gomez contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Perseid meteor shower 2025: best days to view it, where will it be visible Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
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Where can you see the Perseid meteor shower? When it peaks and when to check the skies
Skywatchers might want to stay up late over the next few weeks to spot a popular meteor shower. Here's how to catch it this summer. What is the Perseid meteor shower? According to the American Meteor Society, this celestial event is the most popular meteor shower. Particles are released from a comet named 109P/Swift-Tuttle as it returns to the inner solar system. The name "Perseid" comes from Perseus, the constellation near where the meteors appear to originate at maximum activity. When is the Perseid meteor shower? The shower is active now, and skywatchers might catch it starting at around 11 p.m. According to it's active from mid-July through late August and will peak overnight between Aug. 12 and 13. Can I see the Perseid meteor shower in Kentucky? It's possible — the phenomenon is most visible from the northern hemisphere, according to the American Meteor Society. Its peak is close to the Aug. 9 full moon, so moonlight could affect viewing. The American Meteor Society predicted the moon will be at 84% full at the meteor shower's peak. Other astronomical events happening in July 2025 If you plan on observing the sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for July 2025: July 21 & 22 – Moon, Venus & Jupiter – You can find the crescent moon and the planet Venus toward the east in the morning sky. With a clear view toward the horizon you can also spot Jupiter low in the sky. July 28 – Moon & Mars – The crescent Moon appears right next to Mars after sunset. All month – Constellation: Aquila – You can spot the Eagle constellation, Aquila, in the eastern part of the sky during the first half of the night, writes NASA. Its brightest star, Altair, is the southernmost star in the Summer Triangle, which is an easy-to-locate star pattern in Northern Hemisphere summer skies. All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south. Need help finding stars, planets and constellations? Try these free astronomy apps The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play for iPhone | Google Play When is the full moon in August 2025? The full Sturgeon Moon should reach peak illumination by Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Where can you see Perseids in the night sky? How to watch the 2025 event Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
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Perseid meteor shower 2025: When is it and where can you see it?
The Perseid meteor shower is starting, and backyard astronomers will soon be able to catch a glimpse of the annual event. The meteor shower starts on Thursday, July 17, and ends Saturday, August 23, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). "The Perseids, which peaks in mid-August, is considered the best meteor shower of the year," according to NASA. "With swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long 'wakes' of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere." The Perseid meteor shower is set to peak on the night of August 12 into the early morning of August 13. What happens when the Perseids peak? Usually, during its peak, there will be up to 50 to 75 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, Michael Hankey, American Meteor Society Operations Manager, told USA TODAY in an email. The meteor shower is known to produce very bright meteors, often referred to as fireballs. However, in 2025, the showers' peak will not meet these ideal conditions because the moon will be too bright, Robert Lunsford, the American Meteor Society's newsletter editor and fireball report coordinator, told USA TODAY. This year's peak will occur just three days after the full moon. More news: A Mars rock was expected to sell at auction for $4 million. The final bid was for more When is the best time to see the Perseids? The best time to view the Perseids is between midnight and dawn, according to Hankey. A good day to view them is Thursday, July 24. That's when the new moon is, according to the Farmers' Almanac. This will make the night skies darker and optimal for stargazing. However, one of the best days to see the Perseids is on Wednesday, July 30, because two other meteor showers, alpha Capricornids, Southern delta Aquariids, will be happening at the same time, according to Lunsford. "With the moon bothering the Perseids this year, the last couple of days of July might be a good opportunity to see some meteors without any moon," said Lunsford. Where should you face to see the Perseids? The meteors can appear from anywhere, "Lie back, look up, and scan the entire sky," wrote Hankey. "Meteors can appear in any part of the sky, though they will appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, in the northeast." But the moon's light could affect your chances of seeing a meteor. "You should face away from the moon," said Lunsford. Those hoping to see the shower should also do the following, according to Hankey: Find a dark location away from light pollution Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark Avoid looking at phones or bright lights For optimal comfort, dress appropriately for the weather, use bug spray, and bring a blanket or a reclining chair. Do you need any equipment to see the meteor shower? No, onlookers will not need any equipment to see the meteor shower, according to Hankey. But, Lunsford said those interested in purchasing equipment should stay away from telescopes that are cheaper than $500 and recommends purchasing from Celestron. He advises beginners to opt for a telescope with a lens instead of a mirror, and for those seeking a more affordable option, he recommends a pair of binoculars. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Perseid meteor shower 2025: When it's set to peak, where to see Solve the daily Crossword
