Did you miss the Perseid meteor shower last night?

Meteors will be visible every night from late July through August 24, however, fewer will be visible after the peak


Web Desk August 13, 2015
A picture shows the Milky Way during the annual Perseid meteor shower in northern Italy, on August 13, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

Forecasters at NASA recently announced that the nearly new moon would offer good visibility for the Perseid meteor shower which will peak on August 12 and 13.

The Perseid meteor shower, named after the astronomical constellation Perseus where it appears to originate from, is active every year around July and August. This is a good year for observing the Perseid meteor shower, NASA says, since moonlight will not overwhelm the fainter display of the shooting stars.

Perseid meteor shower in Gemünd, Germany. PHOTO: AFP

The Perseid meteor shower is caused by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. When Earth passes through the debris, specks of the comet hit the atmosphere at 225,000km per hour and disintegrate in flashes of light.

Perseid meteor shower in Rufforth, Yorkshire, UK. PHOTO: AFP

A good number of meteors should be visible every night from late July through August 24.

However, fewer will be visible before and after the peak.

Perseid meteor shower in Pirdop, Bulgaria. PHOTO: AFP

According to astronomy website Spacedex.com, in Pakistan the meteor shower peaked between 11:00pm on August 12 and 4:30am on August 13.

Perseid meteor shower in Großmugl, Austria. PHOTO: REUTERS

“Look towards the familiar constellations Cassiopeia and Perseus in the northeast,” suggests a NASA information page on Perseids. “They rise soon after sunset, but you'll want to wait till they are higher in the sky to see the most meteors.”

Perseid meteor shower in Mitzpe Ramon, Israel. PHOTO: REUTERS

Viewing tips

“Find an area well away from city or street lights,” the NASA information page suggests. “Lie flat on your back with your feet facing northeast and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient -- the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.”

The meteorological department forcasted rain-thundershowes are at scattered places in Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sarghodha, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Sahiwal divisions), upper K-P (Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat divisions) and FATA, while at isolated places in Multan, DGKhan, DI khan, Bannu, Zhob, Nasirbad, Sibbi, Kalat, SH. Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad divisions, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

This means that in most urban centres, the sky will be overcast, making citings difficult.
Hot and humid weather is expected in elsewhere of the country.

COMMENTS (1)

Hitler | 8 years ago | Reply Please keep posting about such events in future too and not after they have taken place. I am always looking for such marvels but always fail :(
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