All articles tagged with #perseids meteor shower
The article highlights the best times and tips for viewing the Perseids meteor shower, which peaks on August 12 in Colorado's mountains, offering up to 150 shooting stars per hour, along with other celestial sights like planetary alignments and the Milky Way, making August a prime month for stargazing.
The northern lights may be visible in up to 8 northern U.S. states tonight, coinciding with the Perseids meteor shower, with better viewing chances in northern Canada and Alaska. NOAA forecasts a Kp index of 3-4, indicating brighter auroras, and recommends traveling to high, dark vantage points between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. for the best viewing experience. The activity is linked to the solar maximum, which peaks in 2024, increasing auroral displays.
This week offers several celestial highlights, including the start of the Perseids meteor shower, a conjunction of Mars and Uranus, and the full Buck Moon rising on July 20. Stargazers can also see Mars near the Pleiades and a waxing gibbous moon close to the star Antares.
Photographer Jay Shah captures a stunning photo featuring the Perseids meteor shower, the Milky Way Galaxy, bioluminescence in the water, a sunset on the Pacific Ocean, and a shipwreck, all in a single exposure. Shah's dedication to "straight" photography without composites or digital manipulation pushes the limits of his equipment and results in rewarding images.
The Perseids meteor shower, the most popular meteor shower of the year, is set to peak on the night of August 12-13, 2023. The best viewing time will be after midnight, with up to 100 meteors per hour expected. To see the shooting stars, find a dark site away from city lights, look towards the north or east about halfway up the sky, and avoid using telescopes or binoculars. The next peak of the Perseids meteor shower will occur on August 12-13, 2024.
August will feature two supermoons, with the first one, known as the "Sturgeon Moon," visible on August 1. Supermoons occur when the Moon's orbit is closest to Earth during a full moon, making it appear brighter and bigger. The second supermoon on August 30 will be a rare blue moon, which happens when there are two full moons in a single month. Blue moons are not actually blue in color. The Perseids meteor shower, peaking on August 12 and 13, will be affected by the brightness of the supermoon, making it more difficult to see.
Photographer Nicholas Roemmelt captured a stunning image of a shooting star, the Milky Way Galaxy, and the Alps during the Perseids meteor shower by blending different exposures taken from the same spot. Despite poor weather conditions, Roemmelt climbed a mountain and successfully captured the shot in 2018. The image, recently featured on NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day, is a composite but all elements were present in the scene. The Perseid meteor shower is currently underway and expected to peak on August 13.
This week, stargazers in the northern hemisphere can enjoy the New Moon, which provides optimal conditions for stargazing. Additionally, the annual Perseids meteor shower has begun and will peak on August 12-13, offering the chance to see between 100 and 150 shooting stars. There are also opportunities to observe a young crescent moon near Mercury, Venus, Mars, and other planets throughout the week. However, it is important to take precautions when observing the sun, as it is currently at its most active phase.