The maximum of the Perseid swarm falls on the night from Saturday to Sunday. Most of the “falling stars” will be seen in the morning. The observation will not be disturbed by the moon. It’s best to go to places where we will be away from the lights.
The Perseids are one of the most regular meteor showers, with an orbit that intersects with Earth every year. This phenomenon can be observed from approximately mid-July to the second half of August. The maximum of the swarm occurs on August 12 and 13.
Perseids 2023. On the night from Saturday to Sunday culmination
– The Perseids will look pretty normal this year. At maximum there will be a chance of seeing 50-80 ‘shooting stars’ per hour. Their exact number is not easily predictable – explained Dr. Kamil Deresz from the Planetarium of the Copernicus Science Center in in Warsaw.
The culmination of the swarm falls this year on the night from Saturday to Sunday, and the most “shooting stars” should appear on Sunday morning. – The weather is going to be good. The moon is in such a phase that it will not be very bright at this time. The best conditions for observation will be outside the cities, away from the lights – noted the expert.
You don’t need telescopes or binoculars to observe “shooting stars”, just the naked eye.
Shooting stars, or meteors
Meteors, colloquially known as shooting stars, are luminous phenomena created during the passage through the atmosphere of rock particles from space, called meteoroids. The vast majority of them are destroyed in the atmosphere. Extremely bright meteors are called bolides, and if a rock that has flown into the atmosphere has managed to survive and reach the Earth’s surface, it is a meteorite.
The Perseids’ so-called radiant – the point from which they appear to emerge if we extended their celestial paths – is in the constellation of Perseus. However, these objects “scatter” all over the sky. During the swarm’s activity, the radiant moves between the constellations of Cassiopeia, Perseus and Giraffe, and at its maximum it will be in the constellation of Perseus.
The Perseids were in the past called “Saint Lawrence’s tears”, which was related to the date of his alleged martyrdom on August 10.
The sky in AugustMateusz Krymski/PAP
The night of “shooting stars” is organized by many centers
Many planetariums and other centers in Poland organize joint viewing of “shooting stars”. For example, in Warsaw you will be able to look at the sky in the green area above the Boulevards – between the Copernicus Science Center (CNK) and the Copernicus Revolution Laboratory. According to the organizers of the meeting, in order to make the sky darker during the observation, the illumination of the Copernicus Science Centre, the planetarium, the surrounding bridges and other objects will be turned off.
The Shooting Stars Picnic is organized by the Astronomical Observatory in Piwnice, 14 kilometers away Toruń (the observatory is part of the Institute of Astronomy of the Nicolaus Copernicus University).
In turn, the Olsztyn Planetarium and the Astronomical Observatory invite you to the Warmian Perseid Night with Copernicus. Various attractions, including a presentation of Copernicus’ instruments, will be waiting for those interested from 15 in Olsztyn’s Central Park
On August 12-15, the 11th Dark Sky Festival will also take place in Sopotnia Wielka (Silesian Voivodeship), as part of the “Dark Sky” program of the Polaris Association – OPP. The peak of the Perseid shower this time is close to the new moon, which offers great opportunities for observing the dark sky and an opportunity to conduct workshops on reducing light pollution “under ideal circumstances” – emphasized the organizers of the event. Observations will be possible in the Botanical Garden in boat – the meeting is organized by Zielona Łódź and the EC1 Planetarium. A reflecting telescope is to be placed in the clearing. 100 deckchairs have been prepared for the participants of the Perseid Night, but it is best to bring your own blanket and warm clothes. Admission only with a valid ticket to the Botanical Gardens.
The Youth Astronomical Observatory them. Kazimierz Kordylewski in Niepołomice (Małopolskie Province). A convenient place for observation will also be in the open-air museum in Ochla (green Mountain). The organizers of the “Night of Falling Stars” are the Kepler Science Center – Venus Planetarium, the Scientific Circle of Space Engineering of the University of Zielona Góra and the Ethnographic Museum in Zielona Góra – Ochla
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