The Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseids are usually reliable for the casual observer.  They peak in and around August 12 each year with average hourly rates up to 100 in only the very best condtions.  Typically aim to see 10 per hour. They get their name from the constellation they radiate from -- Perseus.  There does not seem to be a lot of mythology written about the shower.  A Catholic tradition indicates that St. Lawrence was martyred on August 10, 258 AD and the meteors represent his tears each year.  John Denver's 'Rocky Mountain High' references this meteor shower in its third verse.  It caused controversy with the FCC as they believed the 'high' referred to drugs and not the euphoria felt when viewing the beauty of the Perseids from the mountains.

The Perseids originate from the dust and debris of Comet Swift-Tuttle.  The Earth transits this debris field every August and catches some with its gravity.  The debris burns up in the atmosphere making it look like a streak of light is crossing the sky at an incredible speed.

How can you see the shower close to home?  How can you get that 'high' John Denver was singing about?  There are several tips I would like to share with you.

1. Get out of the city (even just 10 minutes).  Head East or North, ensure you have little light pollution in the northeastern sky.
2. Adapt your night vision.  Don't use white flashlights and don't look at your smart phone!  The smart phone will likely harm your night vision for more than thirty minutes.
3. The best time is between midnight and dawn.  The location you are on Earth will have turned into the meteor stream.
4. Bring a lawn chair with a tilted back or a blanket to lie on.  Bring bug spray.
5. Don't look at your smart phone!
6. Lie on your back and face the northeast, use a compass if you are not sure.  Don't use the compass on your smart phone it will wreck your night vision!
7. The map below indicates the radiant of the shower.  Look for the 'W' of Cassiopeia and the radiant will be just below.
8. Check the weather before you go.  You don't want to make a trip and have a sky full of clouds.

Perseid Radiant Map

Do not be too disappointed if you do not see many.  Some years are better than others.  The below image is from the ESO that shows a Perseid against the backdrop of the Milky Way.

Perseid (Photo Credit: European Southern Observatory)

If you would like to attempt to image the shower you are best off looking for resources and tips online.  I am quite a novice when it comes to imaging the sky.  If I try I'll just take a full frame DSLR and take exposures long enough to see the stars clearly but not long enough for them to streak.  It is best with fast <2.8 high ISO >1600 settings.

If you are crazy about watching the shower you can download a blank sky chart based on 51° latitude and draw in where you see the meteors.  You can denote their length and magnitude.  A chart is provided below for downloading.

Perseid Meteor Shower Blank Sky Map