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Planetary News: Near Earth Objects (2006)Don’t Let Moonlight Stop Your Perseid PartyBy Melanie Melton Knocke
There is good news and not-so-good news about this month’s Perseid meteor shower – traditionally one of the best meteor showers of the year. The good news is that this year’s shower falls on a weekend -- the perfect time for a party! And, even though the peak of meteoric activity is predicted to occur during daylight hours on Saturday, August 12 (around 3:00 pm PDT for those living in the United States), Saturday night should still offer some choice meteors for your viewing pleasure. The not-so-good news is that this year’s shower will be dominated by a bright, waning gibbous Moon -- which can be looked at two different ways. A negative person can say that the Moon’s light will drown out many of the fainter meteors, dramatically decreasing the number you will be able to see. An optimist can say that the Moon’s light will drown out the fainter meteors so that all you are going to see are the really awesome ones! No matter how you choose to look at it, the key is to get outside and take a look -- and the more friends you invite along, the better. Have a Perseid Party Despite the MoonSince you can’t do anything about the moonlit sky, you might as well look at it as a blessing. It makes observing this meteor shower much more convenient. Instead of taking the time and using expensive gas to travel to a dark sky site, you can use your own light-polluted yard. To prepare for your party, find an area of your yard that has the best unobstructed view of the sky, preferably looking east. Although the location doesn’t have to be very dark, it’s best to be as far away from glaring street lights as possible. (One glaring Moon is difficult enough to deal with, you don’t need any extra light.) Everyone will need a lawn chair or a blanket to lie on, and maybe some bug spray to discourage any critters. Snacks and beverages are always a nice touch. Have the party begin around sunset on Saturday, August 12. (Local sunset times can be found on the U.S. Naval Observatory website or on the weather page of your local paper.) This will allow time for your guests to get comfortable as twilight fades to black. Then, there will be about an hour and a half of darkness before the Moon rises above the horizon. This will be the best time to watch for meteors. What will you see? During a meteor shower, Earth is passing through a particularly dusty part of space, usually the debris-filled trail left behind by a comet. The Perseid meteors come from the leftover debris of comet Swift-Tuttle. During optimal observing conditions (when there is no interfering Moon) the Perseid shower can produce 50-60 meteors an hour during its peak. Unfortunately, with a bright Moon in the sky, it’s hard to say just how many meteors you will be able to see. More information about meteors and meteor showers can be found at Meteor Showers: Where When and How to Look for Them.
Even if you don’t see any meteors, there are still many things to look at in the night sky. This weekend the planet Jupiter will dominate the southwestern sky just after sunset. High overhead, three brilliant stars within the constellations Lyra, Cygnus, and Aquila form the Summer Triangle. Check out the Heavens Above website to identify any satellites that might be passing overhead. Then, when the Moon rises, a pair of binoculars will show a surprising amount of detail on the lunar surface. With our brilliant universe overhead and good friends by your side, any meteor you see might be considered a bonus. |
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