CONNECTICUT – The deep coronavirus has robbed Americans of many of their summer joys, but it can not steal the annual Perseid meteor shower as it builds to its peak, when 50 to 75 shooting stars per hour can be seen in the skies over Connecticut seen.
Whether you can see this stunning performance in the ascension of the earth depends on the weather in your area during the peak of August 11-13. The National Water Service says skies over southern Connecticut will be cloudy during that time, with a 30 percent chance of rain. Conditions should be a little better the farther north you travel in Connecticut.
The hours between midnight and sunrise are the best time to scan the sky for the summer classic, which is known for producing firebeams. The moon is in its last quarter phase, and that will show the sky a bit. But the Persian directions tend to be clear, so you should be able to see a fair number of these.
The brightest of meteors are known as “firebeams”, and they are at least as bright as the planets Jupiter and Venus. NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke says the Persians are producing more fireballs than any other meteor shower – to the extent that he has been nicknamed ‘the fireball champion’. During the Perseids, it is not uncommon to see a fireball every few hours, Cooke says.
NASA’s research suggests that the Perseids are rich in fireballs due to the size of the Swift / Tuttle core – about 16 miles (about 26 kilometers) in diameter.
“Most other comets are much smaller, with nuclei only a few kilometers transverse. As a result, Comet Swift-Tuttle produces a large number of meteoroids, many of which are large enough to produce fireballs,” he wrote for NASA.
Although the view is best after midnight from anywhere in the air, the evening hours can offer a special treat, known as earthworm. They are rare, but a sight to behold – a long, slow and colorful meteor that flows horizontally across the sky.
The peak dates are not the only time to see the Perseids, which have been flying across the air since mid-July and continue through August 24th. Therefore, consider passing the peak dates, and especially after August 17, when moonless skies prevail, according to Earthsky.org.
The rumbling Delta Aquarid meteor shower continues through the middle of the month, so you might as well see some of those. The Delta Aquarids are not as productive as the Perseids, but up to 10 percent of them leave sustained trains – that is, glowing ionized gas paths that can last a second or two after the meteor passes.
Dark skies are best for viewing meteor showers. In Connecticut, one good option is the Talcott Mountain Science Center at 324 Montevideo Road, Avon, atop Talcott Mountain. Another great place to skywatch in Nutmeg State is Burying Hill Beach, located off Burying Hill Road and Beachside Avenue in Westport.
Every shower can be seen from anywhere in the sky, though Earthsky.org advises that you place yourself in the shade of the moon at a shed or other structure. The meteors will be more visible.
The other thing that is necessary for successful meteor viewing is patience. The Cook of NASA told Space.com meteor research requires an investment in preparation and time, but is “the simplest form of astronomy there is.”
There is no need for a telescope or binoculars, which are actually a disadvantage, because the more air you see, the greater the chance of seeing a meteor. Give yourself half an hour to 45 minutes to adjust to the dark skies. And, Cooke advises, avoid seeing your phone while you wait to see a shooting star.
“You know, that’s something about meteor observation: You let your eyes adjust to the darkness, and what kills [meteor viewing for] most people nowadays are that they will look at their phones, and that bright screen just completely blurs your night vision, ”Cooke said.
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Each meteor shower has a radiant point where the meteors appear to originate; with the Perseids, it is the constellation Perseus. But the further you get out there, the better the chance of seeing longer streaks and firebeams.
Meteors are produced as the Earth passes through puns left behind by comets as it orbits the sun. The Perseids are produced from Comet 109P / Swift-Tuttle fabric, which last entered our solar system in 1992 and will not return until July 2126.
There are no meteor showers in September, but autumn offers plenty of opportunity to see shooting stars, especially during those from the Geminid meteor shower. The only thing the Perseids have about the Geminids is that they occur in the summer, when it is outdoors comfortably, but the December 7-17 shower is known to produce a maximum of 120 multicolored meteors at its height.
