Chinanews.com client, Beijing, August 12 (Reporter Shangguanyun) As one of the three major meteor showers in the northern hemisphere, the Perseid meteor shower is more enjoyable. This year is a bit special: its maximum period coincides with the Qixi Festival. eve.
According to Yuan Fengfang, head of science popularization at the National Astronomical Observatory, generally speaking, light pollution in cities is more serious, which can obscure starlight.
If you want to watch a meteor shower, you need to go far away from big cities and places with less light pollution to see more meteors.
Perseid Meteor Shower and Tanabata
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the three largest meteor showers in the northern hemisphere. The maximum period basically occurs in mid-August each year. It is the summer in the northern hemisphere and is suitable for outdoor stargazing.
Data map: Previously, the Perseid meteor shower, one of the three largest meteor showers in the northern hemisphere, appeared in the night sky.
On the top of Huangshan Mountain in Anhui, meteors travel through the Milky Way to complement each other.
The starry sky is dazzling, the mountains stretch, and the summit of Huangshan Mountain is magnificent.
Mei Jianshe
In recent years, its maximum zenith flow rate per hour (ZHR) can reach about 100, which is relatively stable.
It is more ornamental because of its many fire meteors and bright meteors.
According to astronomical calculations, the active period of this year's Perseid meteor shower is from July 17 to August 24.
The maximum period will appear from 3 am to 6 am on August 13, Beijing time, and the maximum zenith flow per hour can reach more than 110.
What is interesting is that this year's Qixi Festival is August 14, which means that the maximum period of this meteor shower coincides with the eve of the Qixi Festival. In many people's eyes, it adds a touch of romance.
In addition, in Greek mythology, the hero Perseus ascended to the sky with his wife to become Perseus and Andromeda, which are also rare husband and wife constellations in the 88 constellations throughout the sky.
Meteor shower with a long history
It is reported that the fragments of the Perseid meteor shower come from a comet named 109P/Swift Tantel, which passes by the earth and the sun approximately every 133 years.
When the earth crosses its orbit every year, the small fragments left by the comet will sweep across the night sky and stage a spectacular meteor shower.
The meteors belonging to the Perseid meteor group have a faster speed, up to 59 km/s, and belong to the high-speed meteor group.
Data map: The Perseid meteor shower is staged in the night sky.
Photo by Mai Shangmin
It is worth noting that this year’s Perseid meteor shower has a special place. The best observation effect will not be obtained until the radiant point is close to the zenith before dawn.
As far as viewing is concerned, it coincides with the full moon, and the moonlight will only affect it in the first half of the night.
It should be noted that although its maximum period is on August 13th, if conditions permit, meteors should be visible for several nights before and after.
Want to watch? Also depends on luck
Whenever a meteor shower comes, the way of viewing is one of the focuses of people's attention.
For ordinary enthusiasts, if you want to appreciate the meteor shower, you do not need any special equipment. You can choose to go to a place with a wide view, find the direction of the meteor shower radiant point, and watch it with the naked eye.
"When looking at the starry sky in summer night, the Milky Way is generally not visible in big cities, and light pollution obscures the starlight." Yuan Fengfang mentioned that if you want to observe meteor showers, you need to go far away from big cities and less light pollution to see more meteors.
Of course, due to various factors such as weather, the actual number of meteors that people look like will be less than the value of ZHR. It takes a little patience and luck to successfully appreciate the meteor shower.
(Finish)