A unique sky spectacle is expected this August as the Perseids put on a show. No special equipment is needed—just patience to allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Find a location free from artificial light, and you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking display.
This phenomenon occurs annually from July 17th to August 24th, peaking around the same date each year. This year, the peak of the Perseids will be visible on the night of August 12th to 13th, when meteors will appear with greater frequency.
Two major factors influence the visibility of this event: the weather, which in Greece is typically favorable during this period, and the phase of the Moon. This year, the Moon will be 50% illuminated but will set around midnight, providing a darker sky and allowing for better viewing of more meteors compared to other years.
“After the Moon sets, the sky is ours for Perseid observation,” says astrophysicist Fiori-Anastasia Metallinou from the Thiseio Visitors Center of the National Observatory of Athens.
Metallinou advises that the best way to observe the phenomenon is from a dark location, far from city lights, so the sky appears dark. Look at the sky with the naked eye, ideally toward the constellation Perseus, from which the Perseids appear to originate. However, since the night will be dark, you can see meteors by gazing at any part of the sky.
Meteors or shooting stars are luminous phenomena that occur in Earth’s atmosphere when small particles enter it at high speeds, typically around 60 kilometers per second. The debris heats up due to air friction and usually disintegrates in less than a second, at altitudes above 80 kilometers. The superheated air around the meteor briefly glows, visible from the ground as a bright streak known as a “shooting star.”
Throughout the year, several meteor showers are observed, named after the constellation from which they appear to originate. The Perseids, one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, are named after the constellation Perseus. They are caused by remnants of the Swift-Tuttle comet, ranging in size from 0.1 millimeters to several centimeters. This comet is the largest known celestial body that periodically passes by Earth, taking approximately 133 years to complete an orbit around the Sun. Its last close approach to Earth was in 1992, and the next is expected in 2126.
Photo of the article: A photo by astrophotographer Vasilis Metallinos, who captured Perseid meteors over Asprokavos, Corfu, on August 12, 2019.
