Perseus the Hero

Oh, our beloved Perseid meteor shower is almost here. And this year there's no moon to contend with, which is an excellent situation. So get outside and watch this thing!


Best time to watch: 
August 12-13, 2015 before dawn (not the night of the 13th, but the night of the 12th to the morning of the 13th) It's better after midnight and best from 2 - 3 a.m., but you can still see some meteors earlier if you are a sleepyhead or a gremlin and can't stay up that late. But don't be a baby, it's worth losing one night's sleep for!


Moon status: 
The waning crescent will rise right before dawn so no moonlight will be interrupting our chance to see the dimmer meteors.


What to expect: 
50-100 meteors per hour, depending on how dark the skies where you are are. (double word points) The meteors from the Perseids show are usually fast and bright so they're really fun to watch.


Can I see a Fireball?
Yes! And few things are quite as cool. This video from 2013 explains why you're more likely to see incredible fireballs during the Perseids than other meteor showers.



Why is it called the Perseid Shower?
During meteor showers, it often looks like many of the meteors are coming from the same general part of the sky, in this case the constellation Perseus.

Perseus defeated Medusa, used her severed head to kill all his enemies, saved Andromeda from Cetus the monster and was the ultimate Greek hero.


How to watch:
Get yourself a blanket or reclining lawn chair. I will be using my REI comfort cot, which I am obsessed with:

Doesn't that just look so comfortable? It is.
Even though it's August, you might want a sleeping bag or blanket or something depending on where you are on Planet Earth.


Watch this video for more help on how to be an expert meteor shower watcher:
(Watch it even if you don't want help, it's a cool video.)




Bonus Feature:
Meteors and Greek heroes aren't the only amazing things coming from the constellation Perseus. Check out this amazing discovery:

DARK MATTER!!!!!


Happy Perseids!