The Perseids meteor shower - a shower of stars - is expected in August, freely allowing all fans of celestial shows to enjoy another colorful phenomenon.
Every year, on a moonless August night, the patient observer is greeted with a magnificent spectacle of shooting stars. This meteor shower creates a trail of dust particles that comet Swift-Tuttle leaves behind as it passes. Star rain falls from the constellation Perseus, clearly visible in the Northern Hemisphere. This is where the radiant of the Perseid meteor shower is located.
Miniature particles that reach the Earth from the depths of space burn up without a trace when entering the atmosphere, and finally give people a breathtaking spectacle. The comet itself is located at a considerable distance and makes rare visits to us at 135-year intervals. The last time this happened was in 1992. This visit is associated with a curious incident: Japanese astronomer Tsuruhiko Kiuchi considered the comet to be a new celestial object and announced its discovery, although it has been officially known since 1835.
However, the dust tail of the heavenly wanderer reaches the Earth every year. This phenomenon is due to the fact that as comets approach the Sun, their icy bodies heat up and lose their particles. And the powerful solar wind drives them across the expanses of space towards our planet. Specks of dust and ice enter the atmosphere singly or form fireballs, which are often mistaken for UFOs.
Observation history
The first reliable mentions of falling stars were found in the chronicles of Chinese scientists; they date back to the distant year 36 AD. e. The Perseid meteor shower was described by Japanese and Korean astronomers in the 8th and 9th centuries. The time of the starfall coincides with the anniversary of the death of the Orthodox martyr Lawrence. On the night of August 10, Italians remember the holy deacon, executed by the adamant Roman emperor. Star showers in the sky represented “the tears of St. Lawrence” for medieval believers. A person who remembered his suffering on this day could make a wish by addressing a shooting star.
Comet Swift-Tuttle
The Perseids were officially discovered by Adolf Ketele in 1835. And their number, 160 per hour, was calculated by Edward Hayes. The activity of the shower during the observation period decreased to 37 and increased to 102 meteors per hour. In 1863, observers linked a record 215 shooting stars to the passage of Comet Swift-Tuttle, identifying the origin of the famous meteor shower. When she last time passed near our planet, astronomers, in August 1993, recorded 200-500 flares per hour over Europe. This spectacular star shower is considered a record holder not only for the number of burned dust particles, but also for larger and brighter fireball particles. Scientists have counted 528 shooting stars coming to visit us from the Perseids.
Gallery of Perseids images
Hurry up to make a wish
The moment of greatest meteor activity occurs on the night of August 12-13. Their frequency is expected to be between 60-90 per hour. Stars begin to fall in July, but their number is so small that it cannot be called a stream. 3-4 sparkling lines drawn within an hour will captivate only passionate astronomers. This year is a good one for observation, with scientists predicting dark and clear skies. Last year, those who liked to make a wish on a falling star practically lost this chance. Since the night was bright and moonlit, observation of the burning particles was difficult. But on Thursday, August 12 of this year, you can catch up and think about everything you dream about. Having settled down after midnight, away from city lighting, on an unfolded chair or a spread blanket, look not exactly at the constellation Perseus, meteors will fly out from different points firmament. Don't sleep away your luck and fabulous performance.
Residents of the Southern Hemisphere will not be able to appreciate the full picture of the sky lined with fiery stripes, because the radiant of the meteor shower is located in the opposite part from them. 
List of meteor showers
| Name | Stream dates | Peak flow | Speed km/s | ZHR | Intensity | Progenitor (comet or asteroid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 7 - December 17 | December 14 | 35 | 120 | Strong | 3200 Phaeton | |
| July, 12 - August 19 | July 28th | 41 | 20 | Weak | 96P/Machholz 1 | |
Imagine driving through an intersection on a windy day and a dump truck full of sand has just rushed through. A dust trail trails behind it, and many grains of sand will fall into your windshield. Now let’s transfer this picture into space: instead of a dump truck there will be a comet, instead of an intersection there will be an intersection of orbits, instead of wind there will be sunlight, and instead of a windshield - the earth's atmosphere.
Where do the Perseids come from?
The meteor shower particles are produced by comet Swift-Tuttle. Moving along a highly elongated orbit, it makes one revolution around the Sun every 133 years. When approaching a star, its core partially evaporates, and gases carry away grains of sand and pebbles - from them a trail is formed behind the comet.
Thousands of years of pressure solar radiation blurs it in width and stretches it along the orbit. The width of the Perseid meteor shower exceeds 40 million km, and the Earth crosses it for more than a month, moving around the Sun at a speed of 30 km/s. However, the densest part of the flow is noticeably narrower - 1.3 million km, and we cross it in about 12 hours.
Perseid particles meet the Earth at a speed of 53 km/s. They would cover the distance from Moscow to Yekaterinburg in half a minute. A millimeter-sized grain of sand at such a speed has the energy of a record-breaking hammer blow or explosion of 1 gram of TNT. It could make a significant hole in the hull of a spaceship.
However, the concentration of particles is extremely low. For one of these to get into the ISS, one would have to wait about ten years in the densest, central part of the flow. So meteoroids, despite their speed and impressive appearance when burning up in the sky, pose a much lesser threat to flights than man-made orbital space debris.
This year, conditions for observing the Perseids are especially favorable. Firstly, the maximum activity occurs during the period when it is night in Europe and Russia. Secondly, on August 11 there will be a new moon, which means that moonlight will not interfere with observations.
The International Meteor Organization (IMO) forecasts Perseid activity at 110 meteors per hour, with two additional bursts of activity possible (but not guaranteed) on the night of maximum, presumably around 11:00 pm and 5:30 am Moscow time. They are associated with condensations of meteoric particles that were noticed in past years.
How to look at meteors
No active thread required to monitor complex training and equipment: meteors are visible to the naked eye. You just need to know when and where to look, and get comfortable.
The Perseid radiant, a small area in the sky that, due to the effect of perspective, appears to be the source of meteors from a single shower, is located, as its name suggests, in the constellation Perseus. At the beginning of the night, the constellation is low above the eastern horizon, the meteors of the shower are rarely visible, but they are long, crossing the entire sky.
In the middle of the night, Perseus rises and moves south, and there are more meteors. Best time for observations of the Perseids - at three to four o'clock in the morning, and in the southern regions - until five in the morning. It is not worth looking directly into the radiant, since there are not very many meteors there and they are short. It is better to monitor the area of the sky slightly away from the radiant - at the zenith, in the south and southwest.
No less interesting are photographic observations of meteors. To do this you need a digital camera with a wide-angle lens and remote control(from a remote control or computer), shooting with a shutter speed of at least 30 seconds. The camera is placed on a tripod or simply placed on a flat surface, pointing at the zenith. Long exposure shots are then taken one after another.
Catching a beautiful meteor typically requires images with a total exposure time of two to three hours—much longer than visual observations. Firstly, even wide-angle lenses have a smaller field of view than a person’s, and secondly, the camera cannot turn its gaze towards a meteor that appears at the edge of the field of view. The chances increase if you place several cameras at once, pointing them at different parts of the sky, or use a fish-eye lens.
> Perseids
Perseids– meteor shower of the constellation Perseus: when to observe, peak activity, location, connection with comet Swift-Tuttle, research, interesting facts.
Perseids is an annual meteor shower that lasts from July 23 to August 20. Associated with Comet Swift-Tuttle. The peak occurs on August 12-13. It is sometimes called “the tears of St. Lawrence” because it falls on the date of his martyrdom (August 10).
Main parameters of Perseids:
- Parent body: Swift-Tuttle
- Radiant: Perseus constellation
- Radiant – coordinates: 03h 04m (right ascension), +58° (declination)
- First entry: 36 AD
- Dates: July 23 – August 20
- Peak: August 13
- Maximum quantity: 80
The name partly comes from the Greek “Περσείδες” - “sons of Perseus”. There is an association with Perseus here because the radiant (the point from which the stream appears) is located in the direction of the constellation Perseus. The radiant only creates a random alignment with the constellation, since the stars of Perseus are located several light years away, and the meteors themselves are 100 km away.
A stream of debris stretches along the comet's orbit and is called the Perseid cloud. The Swift-Tuttle orbital path is 133 years. The particles inside the cloud remained there for thousands of years. The peak occurs on August 13, but in 1865 a dust arc caused a shift of one day - August 12.
The Perseids can be observed as early as mid-July, with speeds reaching 60 meteors per hour during their peak. If you are interested in the highest speed, then it is better to observe a few hours before dawn. Most meteors burn up at an altitude of 80 km.
By focusing on the comet's path, the meteor shower provides best review for residents of northern latitudes. In the southern hemisphere, the spectacle is much fainter, since the radiant never rises above the horizon at southern latitudes.
Best choice for observation dark places, away from city lighting. The constellation Perseus is located in the northeastern part of the sky. Meteors should be viewed between the constellation and the zenith (a point in the sky above). But there is no particular need to look for Perseus, since meteors dot the entire sky.
Of course, visibility will also be affected lunar phase. You should look closer to sunrise, between 2-4 am. But you can start from 22:00. If you want to capture this spectacle, set the light sensitivity to high and the exposure to very long (at least 30 seconds).
The exact days, speed of meteorites and intensity of the peak are difficult to predict as they change every year. They can be large and bright or small and dull. This occurs due to the irregular distribution of mass in the meteor shower.
The Perseids are distinguished by their fireballs, huge bursts of light that last longer than normal meteors. Most often their values reach -3. In 2013, the average peak magnitude approached -2.7, which is significantly brighter than Gemini magnitude (-2).
On July 23, you can notice the first appearance of the shower (1 meteor per hour). The intensity increases every week and at the beginning of August 5 meteors fly by in an hour. By August 12-13 – 50-80. After the peak, there is a gradual decline and by August 22 it returns to one meteor per hour.
Data
The main radiant of the stream is located in the direction of Eta Persei, the second is Gamma Persei, and the rest are near Alpha and Beta Persei. In myths Ancient Greece The Perseids were associated with the constellation. It was believed that this was a reminder of the time when Zeus (Perseus' father) visited his mother Danae in the form of a shower of gold.
The shower was first recorded in China, making a note in 36 AD, when 100 meteors were counted. Additionally, the Perseids appear in many Chinese, Japanese and Korean records in the 8th to 11th centuries, but were little talked about in the 12th to 19th centuries.
It is believed that the first to recognize the Perseids as an annual phenomenon was the Belgian astronomer Adolphe Quetelet. In 1835, he reported that in August he had recorded a meteor shower emerging from the constellation Perseus.
Comet Swift-Tuttle was independently discovered by American astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle in 1862. It is large, with a core of 26 kilometers (twice the size of the object that caused the dinosaurs to become extinct). The size of the comet and the size of the meteoroids is the main reason why we can enjoy such big amount fireballs during the peak period.
In 1865, Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli made a connection between the comet and the Perseids. This is an important date because it was the first time a meteor shower was identified with comets.
Swift-Tuttle follows an eccentric orbit, approaching inside Earth's orbit, approaching the Sun, and then exiting Pluto's orbit. As the comet approaches the star, it heats up and ejects debris along its orbit.
In December 1992, the comet reached perigee (closest point to the Sun). This will happen again only in July 2126.
Today, on the night of August 12-13, you will be able to see the brightest astronomical phenomenon of the outgoing summer of 2018 - the Perseid meteor shower.
What is the Perseid meteor shower?
The Perseid meteor shower is an annual event when the Earth passes through the orbit of Comet Swift-Tuttle, which is part of the constellation Perseus. Essentially, what we call starfall is debris from this comet, dust particles ranging in size from a grain of sand to a pea. When they come into contact with the Earth's atmosphere, they burn out, leaving behind bright flashes and stripes in the sky. At least one Perseid can be seen per minute.
Perseids starfall 2018: where, when and what time intkbbee will be visible in August 2018 in Moscow?
Starfall - the Perseids meteor shower will be seen by residents of Russia on the night of August 12-13, 2018, when a partial eclipse of the Sun occurs. It will be possible to see individual Perseids from 23.00 until dawn. As a rule, the greatest intensity is observed on August 13 at 04:30–5:00 am.
At the same time, astronomical instruments will not be needed to observe the maximum of the Perseid meteor shower, reports the Moscow city news agency, citing the mayor's office.
“On the night of August 13, Muscovites will see the brightest star shower of the year - at this time the maximum of the Perseid meteor shower will occur. They appear in the sky annually between approximately July 20 and August 20, but are at their peak during this time. It is best to observe the phenomenon away from the city. Special astronomical instruments are not needed. The glow of some especially bright meteors can last up to several seconds,” the report says.
Finding the center of events in the sky is very easy. First, find the constellation Ursa Minor. At the end of the “bucket” handle is the North Star. To the right of it we are looking for the constellation Cassiopeia, which resembles the letter W. Directly below it is the area we need.
Perseids starfall in August 2018. PHOTO
Live broadcast of a unique natural phenomenon- The Persian meteor shower can be viewed on the Internet.
Perseids starfall on the night of August 12-13, 2018. Live broadcast. Watch online VIDEO
Perseids Starfall 2018: how and when to make wishes?
In the occult, “shooting stars” are traditionally associated with making wishes. Don't miss the opportunity to make your dream come true. If you have time, just contemplate this most beautiful cosmic phenomenon.
According to esotericists, such an activity will serve as a kind of meditation to restore vitality.
Perseids starfall 2018: how does it affect zodiac signs?
During this period, the symbolic properties of Uranus will increase many times over. Revolutionary events, unexpected meetings, and innovative discoveries will occur. One way or another, drastic changes will affect all areas of life. Each zodiac sign should prepare for the surprises that are sure to follow.
Perseids 2018: how to shoot?
Of course, many people want to get a “memory photo”, their own and real one. This is also not difficult to do. You just need to follow some manipulations, and you can do without a tripod. It is enough to place the camera on the mat with the lens up, preferably at the zenith. Change its location as you shoot to find the best view.
How to photograph the Perseids starfall as successfully as possible?
Use a wide-angle lens;
Open up your aperture to capture more meteors. The best option-f/2, the parameter has larger field vision;
Use a fisheye lens or setting;
Set the shutter speed to 30 seconds;
Use burst shooting and auto mode to avoid missing meteors;
Set the ISO value to 1600.
Starfalls as a cosmic phenomenon
Who among us has not heard about the August meteor shower? All month the sky sends us a stream of shooting stars for our desires, a magical, interesting sight. Every August, in clear weather, people see a shower of stars. So why in August? What does this depend on? How does this most beautiful phenomenon happen? Let's discard romantic explanations and turn to the facts.
The fact is that every year in August the Earth passes through a meteor shower, with a radiant in the constellation Perseus. This meteor shower consists of a plume of dust (particles the size of a grain of sand or smaller) released. The radiant is the point in the sky from which meteorites appear to emanate, but in reality they are parallel but appear diverging due to perspective.
This meteor shower peaks on August 12th. But this is not the only meteor shower. Through the Leonids, a meteor shower with a radiant in the constellation Leo-Earth passes in November, but due to weather conditions not as clearly visible as the Perseids. It is the August star shower that attracts everyone's attention. How? The speed and density of the meteorite stream. “Stars” fall at a frequency of 60 meteorites per hour. But before this figure was even higher! At the beginning of the 20th century, up to 400 meteorites fell per hour.
Why has the number decreased? Alas, time is merciless even to cosmic phenomena. Gradually, the meteor shower thins out and every year fewer “stars” enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
What other meteor showers are there?
The Lyrids can be considered noteworthy - they seem to fly out from the constellation Lyra. The first mention of the stream dates back to 687 BC, and was recorded in Zuo Zhuan, China. Regularity of flow in given time years – spring, April, in this part of the starry sky was established in the 1830s. Spectacular meteor showers with very high hourly numbers were observed in 1803 and 1922; a relatively dense flow was also observed in 1982, when the number of meteorites falling per hour reached 90. The maximum density of the fall occurred on April 23.
Are there starfalls during the day?
The Arietids meteor shower is interesting precisely because it falls during the day, but its “stars” can sometimes be seen with the naked eye. The meteor shower has the constellation Aries at its radiant and falls from May 22 to July 2. The peak occurs on June 7th. A maximum of 60 meteorites fall per hour. A meteor shower flies into the earth's atmosphere at a speed of 39 km/s. The source cannot be determined unambiguously. There is a hypothesis that this is either the Icarus asteroid, or the stream is associated with comet 96P/Machholtz. According to Moscow time, the peak of the flow on June 7 occurs from 3:00 to 4:00.
Meteor shower or meteor shower?
Even people far from astronomy need to distinguish one from the other. A meteor shower is tiny particles that burn up in the atmosphere and give us an unforgettable spectacle. But meteor shower is the fall of real meteorites to Earth. For example, in the Middle Ages these two concepts were not distinguished and both phenomena were called the same - "fiery rain".
What is a meteor trail?
Bright meteors belonging to fast showers (Perseids and Leonids) often leave short-term traces along their path. The study of these traces is used to clarify the nature of meteors and study their influence on the ionosphere. Of particular interest in this regard are the long-lasting traces left by meteors and visible for several seconds or minutes. During this time, they are carried away by atmospheric currents and move among the stars. It is by the direction and speed of this displacement that the direction and speed of the winds in the high layers of the atmosphere are determined. When observing meteors, their number depends not only on the number, but also on the brightness of the sky and the transparency of the atmosphere.
Starfall forecast for the second half of 2015
|
Name of meteorite shower and characteristics |
Fall dates |
Flux density |
Radiant location |
|
Orionids: Halley's Comet is in a descending node. White meteors with trails. |
10 |
Orion constellation |
|
|
Draconids: Extremely slow reddish meteors. |
10 |
Constellation Draco |
|
|
Taurids: They are plumes of meteoric particles released in the past from a comet, the orbits of which have changed over time so that they now intersect with the orbit of the Earth. Source - Comet Encke |
10 |
Taurus constellation |
|
|
Leonids: Very fast meteors with greenish trails Source: Comet Tempel-Tull |
15 |
Constellation Leo |
|
|
Geminids: The most abundant stream of the northern sky. White meteors without traces. Their source is asteroid 3200 Phaeton |
100 |
Constellation Gemini |
