This could be a great night for sky-watching above Minnesota. And our relatively dry air mass over Minnesota should help create good viewing conditions.
The annual Perseid meteor shower likely peaks in the pre-dawn hours Wednesday.
This NASA sky map shows where to look to spot the Perseid meteor shower of 2020, which peaks before dawn on Aug. 12, 2020.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
The Perseids
So what are the Perseids? Here’s a good description from NASA.
All meteors associated with one particular shower have similar orbits, and they all appear to come from the same place in the sky, called the radiant. Meteor showers take their name from the location of the radiant. The Perseid radiant is in the constellation Perseus.
Perseid meteors, caused by debris left behind by the Comet Swift-Tuttle, began streaking across the skies in late July and will peak in the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 12.
The Perseid meteor shower is often considered to be one of the best meteor showers of the year due to its high rates and pleasant late-summer temperatures. This year’s shower, however, has the unfortunate circumstance of the Moon phase—last quarter—impeding the view of the shower peak, reducing the visible meteors from over 60 per hour down to 15-20 per hour. But the Perseids are rich in bright meteors and fireballs, so it will still be worth going out in the early morning to catch some of nature’s fireworks.
How many will we see?
Sky-watchers in Minnesota could see as many as 40 to 50 meteors per hour in dark locations away from city lights.
EarthSky elaborates on the show.
In 2020, the peak morning of the Perseid meteor shower is most likely August 12, under the light of a wide waning crescent moon. The mornings of August 11 and 13 are worth trying, too. The morning of August 13 will present a thinner and less bright moon than on the previous dates … and also more hours of dark sky for meteor watching. So moonrise is a key factor for watching 2020’s Perseid meteor shower. Visit Sunrise Sunset Calendars to find out when the moon rises in your sky, remembering to check the moonrise and moonset box.
Also, keep in mind that the Perseids tend to be bright. So we expect a number of them to overcome the moonlit glare over the next several mornings. Will you see as many as 40 to 50 meteors per hour in the predawn hours? Maybe!
Viewing tips
There’s a reason most telescopes are located in dark, remote locations high above ground level if possible. The best viewing locations are far from city light pollution. Higher elevations remove more particles and moisture in the atmosphere from the viewing equation.
To see the meteors it is best to get away from city lights. You may see meteors streaking across the sky any direction.
More from NASA:
If it’s not cloudy, pick an observing spot away from bright lights, lay on your back, and look up! You don’t need any special equipment to view the Perseids – just your eyes. (Note that telescopes or binoculars are not recommended because of their small fields of view.) Meteors can generally be seen all over the sky so don’t worry about looking in any particular direction.
Pro tip: Remember to let your eyes become adjusted to the dark (it takes about 30 minutes) – you’ll see more meteors that way. Try to stay off of your phone too, as looking at devices with bright screens will negatively affect your night vision and hence reduce the number of meteors you see!
Happy viewing!
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August 12, 2020 at 05:37AM
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Sky show: Perseid meteors peak tonight - Minnesota Public Radio News
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