The forecast for the overnight hours between Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11 and 12, is clear. That's great news for anyone wanting to check out a light show in the sky this weekend.
According to Astronomy.com, the Perseid Meteor shower has some added bonuses this year: It will occur on a night when the moon is in its waning crescent phase—the moonlight won't interfere with your view of the dashing meteors—and it's on a Saturday night, which means Chicago area viewers can stay up late and sleep in the next day.
You don't even need a telescope. Just spread out a blanket, maybe a late-night picnic, lie back and enjoy.
Where to view:
You don't need a telescope to view this celestial event, so just head out to a dark spot away from city lights. The further you get from town, the better your view will be. Allow your eyes some time to adjust to the darkness.
With Elmhurst so close to the city of Chicago, that might be difficult. But this meteor shower might be worth a trip to a more rural spot. Naperville Astronomical Society members, for example, often travel to farm areas to view such events.
Perseid Meteor Facts:
- These meteors travel 37 miles per second.
- The best time to view is after midnight—11 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., according to spacedex.com. You'll find lots of good information here.
- The Perseid Meteors are cast-offs of the Swift-Tuttle comet, according to Space.com.
- The shower began on July 23 and will peak the night of Aug. 11-12.
- Look toward the Perseus constellation, which forms an inverted "Y" shape and is in the northeast.
- Some of the meteroids are as small as a grain of sand, but they have the kinetic energy of a nuclear bomb.
- If you see a very slow, bright object sailing across the sky, it's either a satellite or a Space Station.
Do you have a favorite stargazing spot? Let us know in the comments below.
