Meteor Shower Viewing Made Easy

People have been looking up to the sky in wonder, and sometimes fear, for thousands of years. Meteor showers are beautiful and very easy to watch. In the past people feared meteor showers, but now we know that they are dust trails left behind by comets as they travel through our solar system. As the dust enters our atmosphere, it burns up. From the Earth we see a streak of light as the dust travels through our sky.

Frequently people have asked me if meteor showers could harm people. The simple answer is no. By definition a meteor is just the streak of light we see as the dust burns up in the atmosphere. A meteoroid is a rock traveling through space. A meteorite is a rock that travels through the atmosphere, but does not incinerate and actually reaches the ground.

The meteor showers that we have every year are produced by the dust left behind by comets. The dust particles are very small and have a consistency similar to cotton candy. They cannot produce meteorites, the rocks that impact the ground. So relax and enjoy the show.

The Perseid Meteor shower regularly appears near August 11 every year. The best way to view a meteor shower is to find a dark place away from streetlights, if possible. The darker the environment, the more meteors you will be able to see. Allow your eyes a minimum of 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Turn off flashlights, houselights and car lights. If you must use a flashlight, use a red filter over the light. Red light does not interfere with our night vision.

Lay on your back on a blanket or on a lawn chair. Don't stand and crane your neck back. This actually reduces your vision, by reducing the amount of blood flow to your eyes. Lay down, get comfortable. Bring out a few snacks and drinks. If it is cool, bring a blanket.

During planetarium shows, people often asked me what direction they should face for a meteor shower. The answer is "Look Up." Although it is true that meteor showers get their names from the constellations where the meteors appear to trace back to, it is not true that the meteors originate from the area of the constellation. If you focus on the constellation, you will miss the meteors that originate further away from the constellation. For example, the meteors from the Perseid Meteor Shower appear to trace back to Perseus, the guy riding on Pegasus who rescues Andromeda from the sea monster. However, if you focus your attention on the northern sky, you may miss meteors that originate at the zenith (straight up).

Most meteor showers reach their climax after 2 AM in the morning and continue to sun up. If you miss the night or time of peak meteors for a given shower, try for a few days after the maximum time. Meteors are generally visible for a few days before and after the main shower. I have seen some of the brightest meteors days before or after the peak.

Happy Star Gazing. Remember: Dark sky, give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness, lay down, get comfortable and enjoy.