There is probably no person on our planet who does not like star showers. Sometimes they are so beautiful that they simply fascinate with their beauty. This is exactly the astronomical phenomenon that awaits us in August.
2016, like any other, has a constant schedule of meteor showers, since our planet follows the same cosmic route every year. In addition to planets, there are a huge number of celestial bodies in space, among which asteroids can be distinguished. The passage of our planet through the asteroid belts is no less important for astrological forecasts and horoscopes than the state of the stars. It is important to take into account the energy of an astronomical event, and not its physical meaning.
Perseids starfall in 2016
In mid-August, our planet always passes through the Perseid meteor shower. It is quite powerful, as more than 60 meteors burn up in the Earth's atmosphere almost every year during periods of peak activity. The stream was named after the constellation Perseus, from which cosmic particles appear. By the way, these particles are the product of a comet, which moves in its own special orbit, leaving us “messages”. The comet itself flies near our planet only once every 135 years. These particles are made up of ice and dust. Their speed is phenomenal - up to 200 thousand kilometers per second. This has a positive effect on visibility, since pieces of the comet entering the Earth's atmosphere cause powerful flares.
In general, the Earth usually enters the Perseids by the 20th of July, and exits by the 23rd or 25th of August. The peak of activity usually occurs on August 12-13. In 2016, people will be able to see the first shooting stars from July 18th. On August 12, 2016, the shower will reach 100 meteors per hour, which is significant compared to other known star showers. Almost two “stars” per minute are enough to enjoy the show. Naturally, this requires clear skies and distance from the city, because even 10 km from the city visibility is much better.
Meteor showers, as usual, will be observed the longest in northern latitudes. There the visibility is better and the sky is clearer. We are lucky that we are in the northern hemisphere, since the Perseids are almost invisible in the southern hemisphere.
Astrological forecasts for star shower
The Perseids are the first meteor shower discovered to be the product of a comet. It is also one of the first meteor showers, discovered by astronomers and Chinese sages back in the early first century AD.
In ancient times, people had a great desire to explain everything that was happening around them, and they turned, first of all, to the stars and space. It was then that the first major astrological teachings arose, telling us that any meteor shower is incredibly important for making astrological forecasts. It was customary to perform rituals on the waning moon during starfalls.
The Perseids, like other meteor showers associated with the activity of comets, carry warnings for all Zodiac Signs and people in general. The fact is that astrologers have never associated comets with anything positive. They always bring us uncertainty and make us impulsive. The same applies to the meteor showers they cause. That's why from the end of July to the end of August 2016, each of us will be a little sharper than usual. At the moments of greatest activity on August 12-13, 2016, people may experience strange sensations of the presence of a UFO. The flashes, which will appear on average twice a minute, are not associated with aliens, although many eyewitnesses claim to have seen alien ships in the air. This happened in 1992, 1993 and 1997. During these years, the Perseids were very active, so many are skeptical about people's opinions about aliens visiting Earth.
Clairvoyants and psychics say that meteor showers are a time when you can create protective talismans against the evil eye, curses and bad luck. Bright flashes drive away evil spirits. This is the time when even at night evil hides from our eyes. During such periods, folk healers cleanse themselves of negative energy, performing rituals of cleansing from the evil eye, from ancestral negative programs and curses. In terms of energy, such periods are very strong - you can feel the power of the Universe, which gives us time to correct our mistakes.
Many also predict the future during the Perseids and other similar astrological events. In 2016, the best time for fortune telling for the future will be the period from August 5 to August 12. Try to predict future events by looking behind the curtain before the play begins. We wish you good luck and beautiful star rain. Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and
01.08.2016 07:00
Every day of the week affects people differently. The energy of the stars and planets allows you to perform everyday duties...
The 2016 Perseid meteor shower will rain down on Earth this August when a long trail of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle crosses the path of our planet. An unforgettable show awaits us. We will tell you how and where the Perseids will be visible in 2016.
According to many astronomers, the Perseid meteor shower is rightfully considered the most popular meteor shower of the year. In 2016, it will be brighter than ever: the number of falling meteors will, on average, double.
This year, at its peak, between 150 and 200 Perseid meteors are expected to fall each hour, up from 80 meteors in normal years. The last time astronomers observed such an increase was in 2009.
Perseids 2016 – What time to watch?
Starting July 17 and ending August 24, the Earth will pass through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle. At the same time, the peak time - when our planet enters the densest region of the cometary trail - will occur on August 12. In other words, during this peak you will see the largest number of meteors in the shortest period, but you will still be able to see some Perseids before and after this date.
These meteors will appear from the constellation Perseus, which appears in the sky at about 10 p.m. local time. At the same time, most meteors will be visible to the observer only after midnight. A starfall can illuminate the entire night sky, but its origin will invariably appear from the constellation Perseus.
On the evening of August 11, the view will be obstructed by the moon's illumination, but it will set at 1 a.m. on August 12. Therefore, it is best to begin your observations of meteor showers after the moon has set.
Perseids 2016 – Where Will They Be Visible?
The Perseid meteor shower is most comfortable to observe in the northern hemisphere and to mid-southern latitudes; all you need is as dark a space as possible, the ability to sit comfortably and a little patience.
The full moon in August will occur on the 18th, so the most comfortable time for observation will be the first half of the month, when the light from the moon is not so bright.
Perseids 2016 – Source?
Comet Swift-Tuttle is the largest space object known to us to regularly pass near the Earth; its width is about 26 kilometers. The last time this comet orbiting the Sun passed near our planet was in 1992; the next time a similar encounter will take place only in 2126. However, we will not be allowed to forget about this comet by its trail consisting of cometary dust and debris, which annually creates the Perseid meteor shower.
When you sit and watch a meteor shower, you are actually seeing pieces of a comet burning up in the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 59 kilometers per second. In space, these debris are called “meteoroids,” but as they enter the earth’s atmosphere, they are called “meteors.” If the “meteor” was able to reach the surface of the Earth and did not burn up in the atmosphere, it is already customary to call it a “meteorite”.
Most Perseid meteors are not particularly large to reach the Earth's surface, being roughly the size of a grain of sand.
This year, the comet's trail is denser than ever, meaning the star shower will be at least twice as intense as usual. This happens when numerous fragments of a comet come together due to the gravitational influence of the giant planets of our Solar System.
It is noteworthy that this year the comet's trail will include meteors that fell from it in 1862, 1479 and 1079. In other words, some of the meteors lighting up Earth's night sky this August broke off from Comet Swift-Tuttle about one thousand years ago.
Perseids 2016 – How to See?
The more area of sky you see, the better it is for viewing the meteor shower. Also, if possible, you should go outside the city, where there is not a lot of light, and be patient for the next 2-3 hours. It will take up to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to complete darkness. The longer you can wait, the more you will be able to see. 150 meteors per hour gives us, for example, two to three meteors every minute, the brightness of which will vary depending on their size.
Also, when going out of town, don’t forget to take with you a comfortable folding chair, a little “braking” for a snack, and some kind of insect spray. After which, you can relax and watch the fabulous celestial show.
, August 7, 2016In this article, we have collected answers to the most frequently asked questions from Internet users regarding this stream.
Meteor viewing is one of the most exciting astronomical activities. This is of interest to everyone - beginners, serious amateurs, specialists, and even people completely far from astronomy. After all, watching meteors is easy and fun. To make the observation meaningful, you first need to understand the basic questions that concern beginners: where to observe, where to look to see meteors, what is a radiant, will it be possible to see a starfall on August 12, and the like.
So, let's go!
When can you see the Perseids?
Periodic annual meteor shower. You can observe it from the end of July until the 20th of August. However, for most of this period the shower is inactive, producing only a few meteors per hour. It is best to observe the Perseids near the maximum activity, which is usually observed on the night of August 12-13. At this time, under favorable conditions, you can see up to 100 meteors per hour!
Why are the Perseids called that?
Historically, in astronomy, all meteor showers are named after the constellations in which they are located. radiants. Thus, meteors from the Leonids shower have a radiant in the constellation Leo (in Latin Leo), Geminids - in the constellation Gemini (in Latin Gemini), Aquarids - in the constellation Aquarius (in Latin Aquarius). The Perseids are no exception. The radiant of this shower is in the constellation Perseus, hence its name.
Radiant Perseid
What is a radiant anyway? Imagine yourself standing on a railroad track somewhere in the steppe. The rails, so wide under your feet, converge at one point in the distance. This point can be called the radiant of the rail. Although the rails are parallel to each other along the entire path, it seems to us that they emerge as if from a radiant.
The analogy with the Perseid meteors (as well as any other shower) is complete. They also fly across the sky as if from one point in the sky, although in fact they fly on a parallel course.
Where is the Perseid radiant located?
Finding the Perseid radiant is quite simple, although this work will require care and patience. To complete it, you will need a copy of a star map (atlas) with the part of the sky that you are going to observe, as well as a pencil and ruler. As soon as you notice a meteor in the sky, remember where it appears and disappears. Mark the meteor's path on the map. Do this work with several more meteors. You will soon notice that the meteor paths, when extended on a map, converge at some point in the sky. This is what will happen Perseid radiant.
Astronomers have studied the Perseid radiant quite well. It is located in the northern part of the constellation Perseus near the border with the constellation Cassiopeia. Moreover, it does not rest in one place, but slowly drifts across the sky to the east. At the peak of the Perseids, on the night of August 12–13, the radiant is located near the famous double open cluster in Perseus.
Drift of the Perseid radiant. Source: IMO
In what part of the sky can you see the Perseids?
Although radiant Perseid is located in the constellation Perseus; you need to look not at it, but at an area of the sky located 60 degrees from the constellation. On August 12-13, at the time of maximum activity of the stream, the constellation Perseus is located low above the horizon in the east in the evenings, and in the southeast at night. Therefore, it is most convenient to observe the Perseids, looking south and towards the zenith, towards the constellations Lyra, Cygnus, Cepheus and Lizard.
The Great Summer Triangle, formed by three bright stars Vega, Deneb and Altair, is where the chance of seeing the Perseids is high. The figure shows the position of the asterism in the sky after midnight, when the Moon has already set below the horizon. Drawing: Stellarium
Another option is to watch north, towards the North Star and the Big Dipper.
Where to watch the Perseids?
It is better to observe meteors in open areas: in a field, in the mountains, on the seashore - in a word, where the largest possible area of the sky is exposed to your attention. It’s good if the area is away from city light: in a dark sky you will see many more meteors.
In normal years, the Perseids produce between 50 and 120 meteors per hour at their peak. This, of course, is far from being a shower of stars. However, a surge in shower activity is possible in 2016: some experts predict up to 200 meteors per hour - on the night of August 11-12!
Why are some meteors bright and others dim?
The brightness of a meteor depends on the size of the meteoroid. The larger the particle of matter that collides with the atmosphere, the brighter it glows.
Why are some meteors long and others short?
For two reasons. The first reason is meteoroid size. Small dust particles burn faster than grains of sand or pebbles. On the other hand, it plays an important role corner, under which we see a meteor. Meteors flying away from us will be long, and those that fly right at us, will look like an almost pinpoint flash of light.
The spectacular annual shower of Perseid meteors peaked on the night of August 11th. It was a year where about 200 meteors lit up the sky every hour, the year being the most active.
The Perseids are seen as the Earth passes through the trail left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. Meteors are so named because they appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, the savior, in Greek mythology, of Andromeda (whose constellation is slightly west of Perseus), who in turn is the daughter of Cassiopeia (slightly to the north).
The particles entered Earth's atmosphere at speeds of more than 200,000 km/h and evaporated at an altitude of about 100 km, producing bright streaks of light as they streaked across the sky, with larger fragments creating fireballs that sometimes exploded.
This year's pattern peaked at the beginning, the peak was more impressive, from 60-100 per hour; Jupiter's gravitational pull brought several meteor showers together so that the Earth passed through them simultaneously. Meteors continued to arrive for several days. Perseus's position in the sky means the northern hemisphere will be visible at its best. Cloudless, rural skies are best for optimal viewing, ideally with some patience, a blanket or two and a flask of coffee or something stronger.
Here is a selection of images from the Perseid meteor shower, captured around the world.
The Perseid meteor shower is rightfully considered one of the most popular and picturesque “star showers”. Owing its existence to the comet Swift-Tuttle, it delights the inhabitants of the northern hemisphere every year. The peak of the meteor shower is expected from Thursday to Friday and from Friday to Saturday. Moreover, in 2016 the Perseids will be much more intense than before. We talk about how to observe, study and even photograph meteors, as well as other astronomical and atmospheric phenomena in August.
Perseid meteor shower 2016: detailed guide and observation secrets. Source: gorodkirov.ru
Where and when to watch
Perseid activity begins to increase from August 5, reaching its peak from 11th to 12th(for the European part of Russia) and from 12th to 13th August(for Siberia and the Far East). The increased activity gradually decreases after the peak until August 15th, with isolated meteors visible until August 24th. On the days of maximum flow, the number of meteors in 2016 will reach up to 150 per hour - this is the forecast of the International Meteor Organization (IMO). The high increase in the number of observed meteors compared to previous years is due to the fact that this year a section of the stream will pass near our planet, shifted closer to the Earth’s orbit and disturbed by the gravitational influence of the giant Jupiter. In addition, on the night of August 12, the Earth will pass close to two plumes of particles ejected by Comet Swift-Tuttle in 1479 and 1862, which will also increase the intensity of the star shower. By the way, you can monitor the activity of the Perseids online, and the NASA channel will help you watch the flow in real time
It is worth observing the Perseids with the naked eye, limiting yourself only to glasses or contact lenses if you have poor eyesight. There is no need to take binoculars, telescopes, or spotting scopes with you - they will only cover most of the sky. Bad weather and light exposure in large cities and towns can interfere with observations. In this case, it is worth driving after sunset as far as possible from the city to those places where the lighting tends to zero. Will fit hills, wastelands, fields at a distance of about 50 km from major cities. The darker the sky and the wider the view, the greater the likelihood of seeing even a faint meteor. You can monitor the weather and cloudiness using the Hydrometeorological Center service.
To get a better view, professionals advise sitting on a sun lounger or lying directly on the ground, after laying down one or two blankets. It’s good to take a sleeping bag with you - August nights are no longer pleasantly warm. So, at this time the air temperature at night in the Leningrad region rarely rises above 12 degrees. Prepare for the fact that you will need to lie/sit for a couple of hours with mandatory breaks of 10 minutes - before it begins to get light. Breaks are necessary in order to stay focused and warm up, otherwise after an hour, most of the meteors will be difficult to notice.
How to find and observe
Find constellation Perseus simple enough. We need to find a familiar one in the sky Ursa Major— the constellation resembles a ladle with a handle. If you look a little to the right and slightly up, you will also see one of the bright and memorable constellations, which is visible even in the city despite the light pollution - Cassiopeia in the shape of the letter W. Just below Cassiopeia there are four bright stars of Perseus, lined up along one slightly curved line. It is from the point between Cassiopeia and Perseus, called radiant, and the Perseids fly out, leaving a bright and thin strip of light in the sky, disappearing in a couple of seconds. To determine whether a meteor is a Perseid, you need to visually continue its track in a straight line. If the line does not intersect the radiant, then the meteor has no relation to the Perseids and is called sporadic. However, sporadic meteors can be quite bright and impressive.
If you are traveling with a group of several people and want to count the meteors you see, and also understand the stars and constellations, you can use a professional observation method. Let each meteor shower viewer have his own observed sector of the sky, limited by several bright landmark stars. If you are traveling more than 50 km from major cities, feel free to take a DSLR camera, a good lens and a tripod with you. There is a detailed guide to photographing any meteor showers.
When meteors are not visible in the sky, there is no need to be upset. Treat the starry sky as a gift, study the brightest stars, constellations and even galaxies using special applications. In addition, it is interesting to observe their satellites, which move relative to the “fixed stars” in different directions. In addition, you can see ISS— You can track the International Space Station using the free ISS Spotter app for iOS and the inexpensive ISS Detector Satellite Tracker for Android. That's not all: astronomers also love satellite flares Iridium, the track of which is different from meteors - short, bright, thickened in the middle, similar in shape to a spindle.
