It rains starsncqaupten in the night sky
It's summer and the first Perseid meteors are appearing in the night sky. Before they reach their peak in mid-August, several smaller meteor showers put on an impressive display.
Stargazers have a good chance of observing multiple meteor showers in the coming weeks. Along with the Perseids, the Delta-Aquariids (also called Aquariids), and the Eta-Eridanids, particles from three larger streams pass through our atmosphere. According to the International Meteor Organization (IMO), the first two streams are already active, although they are still some way from their maximum. And not all three streams have the same chances of observation even with good weather. The Astronomy Association in Bensheim shared this information.
The most famous meteors are the Perseids. They reach their maximum on the night of August 12th. "This moment is not particularly favorable for observation: The Moon is in the sky and doesn't go down until 11 pm," shared the chairman of the Astronomy Association, Uwe Pilz. The radiant, or the point from which the Perseids originate, is at its highest at the end of the night. "I recommend observing during the second half of the night," he suggests. From a dark location, one can expect to see 20 to 30 meteors per hour. The constellation Perseus, from which the Perseids originate, is located in the eastern sky at dawn.
Their true cause is that the Earth crosses the orbit of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle and encounters the particles ejected by it. These particles then burn up as shining meteors when they enter the Earth's atmosphere.
A dark location is crucial
The Eta-Eridanids can be seen with luck in several nights. They have a broad maximum, according to the Astronomy Association, with a peak on August 8th. In the first half of August, the Moon does not interfere. And just like with the Perseids, the hours after midnight are more suitable because the constellation Eridanus is higher in the sky. However, this stream is very weak. "From a dark location, one can observe one to two of these meteors," Pilz said. Eridanus is located in the deep south at dawn.
The Delta-Aquariids, according to the Astronomy Association, have two peaks on July 30th and August 13th, almost coinciding with the Perseids. The radiant is quite low, meaning one is more likely to observe them on the Southern Hemisphere. With careful observation, a few meteors per hour could be seen. The constellation Aquarius, from which they originate, is at its highest in the sky against the morning sky around 2 am during the second maximum. Pilz: "The Moon won't interfere then."
- Engaging in stargazing lessons could be an exciting addition to an astronomy education curriculum, as it allows students to learn about celestial events like the Shooting Stars, such as the Perseids and Delta-Aquariids.
- For those with a passion for astronomy, exploring the mysteries of the Universe, including phenomena like Shooting Stars, can be a lifelong journey, offering endless opportunities for discovery and learning through resources like astronomical organizations and online astronomy courses.
