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How to Locate the Perseids

Go outside during the late-night hours of Aug. 12 into the predawn hours of Aug. 13 for a glimpse of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Each year, Earth passes through the debris field left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle, which last passed through our solar system in 1992. "Shooting stars" or meteors are pieces of comet trash falling through Earth's atmosphere. Because the meteors appear to originate from the constellation Perseus, they are called the Perseids. If viewing conditions are right, northern sky watchers can see a spectacular show.

Things You'll Need

Lawn chair
Blanket
Bug spray
Snacks
Star chart
Red-filtered flashlight

Instructions

- 1
  Pack a lawn chair or blanket, bug spray and snacks. You might want to bring a red-filtered flashlight and a star chart to help you find the constellation Perseus. Binoculars aren't necessary.
- 2
  Drive northeast away from the glare of artificial light sources. The constellation Perseus rises in northeastern skies around 11 p.m. local time.
- 3
  Find a dark spot with an unobstructed view of the sky. Position yourself so the horizon is at the edge of your peripheral vision.
- 4
  Give your eyes plenty of time to adapt to the darkness.
- 5
  Find the constellation Perseus. Look for a group of stars that looks like a "W." This is the constellation Cassiopei. Turn yourself until the stars look like a "W" and not an "M." Look for a bright white star surrounded by a group of smaller stars that looks like an elongated oval to the left of Cassiopei. The bright white star is Mirfak, and is located at the top of Perseus.
- 6
  Sit back and enjoy the show. Under optimal viewing conditions, you may be able to see upwards of 50 to 80 meteors per hour. There are several smaller meteor showers occurring at the same time. To know if you have seen a Perseid meteor, trace the trail backwards. If it leads to the constellation Perseus, it is part of the Perseid meteor shower.

Astronomy