Perseid Meteor Shower 2009 At Peak Viewing Tonight
With holidays like Memorial Day and Fourth of July behind us, the fireworks are largely over for the summer (at least the legal ones), but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy an incredible show in the sky. The Perseid meteor showers have been visible since mid-July, but tonight they reach their peak with as many as 80 meteors flaring through the night sky during any given hour. The bright moon and city lights can obscure your view of the showers, so the best seats in the house are out in the boonies as far from large cities as possible. According to NASA, the best time to get a clear view of the showers unimpeded by lunar glare is from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.–your local time. So ask out that cute blonde that you’ve been meaning to talk to and impress her with a romantic first date and a little astronomy knowledge. [NASA via LA Times] [Photo: fruitbit]
Update 7:15AM PST – While some readers reported a rather lackluster showing last night, the Perseid Meteor Shower will continue in the nights ahead. Have you experienced anything special in your area? Seen any brilliant displays? Leave your comments (and your photos!) below.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 6:49AM
what a dud!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 8:44AM
why does it have to be a blonde?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 1:40PM
where is it?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 2:34PM
im in swansea will i see it?? i love shooting stars/meteors
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 4:14PM
i'm from eastern canada. will i see it? this will be my first sighting!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 4:57PM
yes thay are spotted all over the world.
im going to watch tonight its going to be
amazing!!!
the best times to look is beetween 2 and 4 am
if you dont have any luck its still nice to star gaze!!!!
good luck
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 5:05PM
yes thay are spotted all over the world in my coment i just done i put, look beetween 2 and 4 am but thats for england if you are more intrested at the times for canada do some research online
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 5:07PM
all over the world!!!;)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 5:30PM
LOL
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 8:03PM
it was really neat wat i seen of it will it be tongiht too??
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 8:06PM
I have never seen a meteor shower. I read that the best time to view is between 12am aqnd 5 am. I went out last night around 12:15 am and didn't see one. There was some clouds but there was also clear sky. I didn't see one. I was out there for about 30 minutes. I will try again, but stay olut a little longer. Since reading t5his, I'll try going out around 9pm. If I see nothing, I'll try again around 12 am.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 11:55PM
I saw one meteor that went to -4 magnitude…
August 12, 2009
Approx. 2:27 AM PDT
Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:34AM
I think I might have seen one last night around 12:40ish. I'm not sure though. They didn't look as great as the ones in the video. It was only a really short like inch long stream of light that lasted a nanosecond… but I'm telling myself it was one. I want to try again tonight. It sucks that I live in a city though. I'm going to try to get my college to do some college-wide power turnoff or something for a different shower throughout the year so we can all go out and watch them. That would be great. Good luck to everyone looking and I hope to get a few wishes granted tonight. : )
Thursday, August 13, 2009 1:41AM
haha I am taking a Brunette.
Thursday, August 13, 2009 9:06PM
im absolutely gutted it was so cloudy last night a stargazers nightmare AHHH lol but i really wanna see a meteor shower in that video what is that place called with al those stars man every star constellation is viewable