There is no summer without the famous Perseids, or tears of Saint Lawrence, which light up the skies every year from mid-July to almost the end of August. In this 2022 they can be seen, more specifically, until August 24. Yes indeed, the meteor peak will take place on the nights of August 11-13 Y which, unfortunately, will coincide with the full moon on the 12th, making it difficult to see the biggest meteor shower of the year at its peak.
What are the Perseids?
This phenomenon begins to occur as the Earth enters the cloud of dust and splinters left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle as it revolves around the Sun. That is, what we call “shooting stars” are actually , pieces of meteorite dust passing through the atmosphere at more than 210,000 kilometers per hour.
It is something that takes place throughout the day but, obviously, it can only be observed at night and with the least light possible. According to NASA, the best time to view the Perseids in the Northern Hemisphere is during the hours before dawn, although they can also be seen at dusk, after 10 at night. However, this year the full moon is going to complicate things a little more than usual.
What will the 2022 Perseids look like?
According to Bill Cooke, a NASA astronomer specializing in meteoroids, while “most of us would typically see 50 to 60 meteors per hour during the peak,” “This year the full moon is going to reduce it to between 10 and 20, in the best case”.
An alternative would be look for another day in which the moon bothers us less, although it does not coincide with the peak of meteors. Thus, during the first days of August, the moon sets early and leaves many hours of night without lighting. In other words, we have in that period a series of days very close to the peak to observe the Perseids.
What is the best day to see the Perseids 2022?
Although, if we have to stay with just one day, on August 6 there are several ideal circumstances: the moon sets very soon and, according to the State Meteorological Agency, most of the national territory will be clear on Saturday. In addition, it is the weekend, which makes it easy to get away and stay up late.
Ultimately, taking all this into account, on August 6, 2022 It is the ideal day to enjoy the great astronomical spectacle of summer.
How do I see the Perseids?
In addition to the day, the place we choose is also of great importance since light pollution can spoil our views. As explained by experts from Xataka, go to high places It can be a good idea because, in this way, we leave some of that contamination below the line of sight.
For the rest, it is not necessary to use any kind of gadget, such as binoculars or a telescope. Of course, once you find a suitable place, you have to stand with your back to the moonwhich is in the direction in which, approximately, we will find Perseus, the constellation to which the radiant point of the cloud is close.
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