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Enjoy the meteors: no telescope needed

Night sky events with
Bob Mizon MBE of the Wessex Astronomical Society

On August 11th -13th, wrap up warm and stay out late.
Set up a deckchair or spread the recliner, lie back and watch for the Perseid meteors, ancient comet debris falling through Earth’s atmosphere. Every year on the same dates the Earth encounters these debris trails, and as the comet fragments barrel through the air they burn, forming bright streaks which seem to radiate from a point in the sky.
This month they appear in the constellation of Perseus.
Don’t expect fireworks – in some years rapid rates might produce two or three a minute, and in others you might wait 20 minutes or more.
Sometimes they leave sparkling trails in their wake.
Bright yellow Capella, rising in the north-east, marks the general direction of their radiant point.
The Moon’s light will only interfere very late in the evening.
Clear skies!

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