Tonight, the Sky will be on FIRE! Here’s a guide so you don’t miss the best shower in years!
As summer’s warmth envelops us, it’s time for the annual celestial delight: the Perseid meteor shower. This year promises a particularly stunning display, with peak activity occurring late TONIGHT in the early morning of Tuesday, August 12th. The Perseids, originating from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, can be seen streaking across the sky from the constellation Perseus in the northeast.
From 2 a.m. local time till dawn, look for this eye-catching pairing of Jupiter and Mars in the eastern sky. Two mornings later, on August 14th, they’ll be in conjunction and just 0.3° apart!
Credit: Stellarium
The shower runs from mid-July to late August, but the best viewing will be during the peak, where skilled observers in dark locations might see up to 100 meteors per hour. For most of us dealing with light pollution, expect around 30–40 meteors per hour, which is amazing.
Meteor showers have always held a special place in my heart. Forty years ago, when I was 12 years old, witnessing my first meteor shower sparked my passion for astronomy. The sheer wonder and beauty of those streaking lights against the night sky made me a budding astronomer. They reminded me that we are part of something much larger, a universe filled with mysteries waiting to be explored. Now, I send out actual meteorites to lucky subscribers of this 11,500 person mailing list. I never could’ve conceived of that 40 years ago. The cosmos has come full circle!
This year’s event is even more special due to favorable viewing conditions. The Moon will be a shy crescent, setting well before the peak activity, ensuring its light won’t interfere. For the best experience, head out around midnight and stay till dawn, as the later you stay up, the more meteors you’ll see. Earth’s nighttime hemisphere turns into the direction of our orbital motion, resulting in more meteors visible in the early morning hours. I’ll be in Julian, California, tonight. Let me know if you want to meet up here.
And while you’re out late, enjoying a pre-dawn cappuccino, the conjunction of Jupiter and Mars will be visible in the eastern sky from 2 a.m. until dawn on August 12th. They will be just 0.3° apart — narrower than the full moon — two mornings later on August 14th, adding an extra treat to your stargazing session.
To fully enjoy the Perseids, you don’t need a telescope. Just bring a blanket and a reclining chair. Your neck will thank me later. A pair of binoculars might help you explore the sky during lulls. If you’re into photography, set up a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a wide-angle lens on a tripod and use a remote shutter release for long exposures.
Whether you’re sharing the experience with family or enjoying a solitary night under the stars, the Perseid meteor shower reminds you of the simple, awe-inspiring wonders that nature offers. If you happen to spot some meteors, reply with a picture of your setup. I read every single reply!
If you already won a meteorite or just want to help your favorite local cosmologist click here and give back!
Until next time, have a M.A.G.I.C. Week,
Brian
PS. Don’t forget if you have a .edu email address and live in the USA, I’ll send you a meteorite of your own. Just click here to update or add your information.
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I was recently on the Rick Walker Podcast and we discussed Einstein, the Big Bang, and my process for creating great content.
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A huge meteor was captured by my friend Andrew McCarthy. Check out his free stuff for download here.
Conversation
Have you ever wondered what’s happening inside the US government’s UFO program? How far has our hunt for aliens come? Are they hiding evidence of alien life or alien technology? And how should we deal with all the misinformation surrounding these subjects? Here today to speak out on the intricacies of our professional(and amateur) hunt for aliens is none other than Sean Kirkpatrick, Pentagon’s former UFO chief.
Primarily a laser and materials physicist, Kirkpatrick became the first director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) at the United States Department of Defense. The AARO is responsible for investigating unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), commonly referred to as UFOs. Later, he quit his position as director of the AARO due to constant threats and harassment.
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