As every year, between mid-July and August we can witness the Perseids , one of the meteor showers (or rather meteorites) that are most expected given the magnificence of its spectacle that can be appreciated with much more intensity when it occurs. its peak. That is why we are now talking about the Perseids 2021 and what is the best night to see them.
Perseids 2021: What is the best night to see the most anticipated meteor shower?
The Perseids occur as every year between July 17 and August 24, but in this 2021 the peak of activity of this meteor shower has been announced for the next August 12 at dawn, therefore it will already be dark and if we are lucky and we place ourselves in a suitable place we will be able to see them without any problem.
However, to be able to see the Perseids you actually have more than one chance since despite that peak on August 12, you will not only see them from August 11 to 12, but also on the night of August 12 to 13. August you will have the opportunity to witness his greatness. Because that’s when the Earth enters the densest regions of the dust cloud. On average, it is expected that up to 110 meteors can be seen per hour (meteors that on the other hand are quite small since we must remember that they are not larger than a grain of rice).
How to see the Perseids 2021?
In this way, to see the Perseids 2021, write down the date of August 12 , in addition to trying to be located in a place where there is not too much light pollution since this year we have a small “problem” with respect to the moon, which As it is in the rising phase, it will illuminate much of the night , preventing us from intercepting the finest and most delicate meteorites that emerge from a dark sky. This can cut the number of meteors visible that night in half.
You must remember then that apart from the announced peak (August 12), the best time to admire the Perseids will be between 3 and 4 in the morning , when the constellation of Perseus, which shelters the radiant, approaches the zenith. The conditions will then be the best to see a maximum of meteorites, that is, when our planet faces the bulls of cosmic dust.
What are the origins of the Perseids?
The first traces of the observation of the Perseids seem to go back to AD 36, in China. And every year, this swarm of meteorites continues to produce, in mid-August, the spectacle of an enchanting shower of shooting stars. It is arguably the most famous of the meteor swarms. And its activity began, as every year, on July 17. It will end on August 24.
Recall that the Perseids are the result of the passage of the Earth through a debris stream left there by Comet 109P / Swift-Tuttle. His last visit dates back to 1992, which in 1993 caused an exceptional meteor shower. Observations of up to 300 meteors per hour have been reported. But, for the next passage, it will be necessary to wait until 2126.
