This week the night the skies above Ireland will see an amazing Meteor Shower called the Perseids, and Astronomy Ireland want you to help count these shooting stars.
Astronomy Ireland is doing a Nationwide Perseid Watch and they want you to help. No special equipment is needed, and you can look anywhere in the sky!
FINGERS CROSSED WE ALL GET A CLEAR NIGHT!!
The Perseids have been observed for around 2000 years, and are the result of Earth passing through a cloud of dust left behind Comet Swift-Tuttle.
As Earth moves through this cloud, the particles fall into our atmosphere and burn up, creating spectacular streaks of light in the sky, known as meteors or shooting stars.
This shower is named after the constellation Perseus, from which the meteors appear to come from in the sky. If you trace back the path of a Perseid, you will find that it appears to come from a point in the north east, maybe halfway between the horizon and the zenith (the point straight above your head).
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Count how many meteors you see every 15 minutes (if possible, start on the hour or quarter past the hour), and note it down. Then email Astronomy Ireland your report with your name, location, and the night you observed.
For example, a normal report would be as follows:
Name: Joe Bloggs
Location: Kinsale, Co. Cork
Night: Tuesday night and Wednesday morning
11:30 - 11:45: 12 meteors
11:45 - 00:00: 8 meteors
Email your meteor report to magazine@astronomy.ie
Remember, the best night to watch is the night of Tuesday August 11th, but you can observe on any night around this date.
You also do not need a telescope or any special equipment to view the Perseids.
To learn more go to ASTRONOMY IRELAND
