Anyone up for a meteor watch? The Perseids peak Aug 11 & 12

[LongTomH]

This year may be spectacular! Phil Plait comments on his Bad Astronomy blog: How to watch the 2016 Perseid meteor shower:

The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks this year on Aug. 11 and 12, with the best viewing after local midnight. The shower is one of the very best of the year, with 60 or more shooting stars visible every hour.

I have a viewing guide below, but first there’s some unusual news: The shower may have a rare outburst, a big uptick in activity, this year!

........//snip

This outburst should occur on the night of Aug 11 and 12. It’s not clear if it will happen, or when—these things are pretty difficult to predict—so I advise you go out shortly before midnight and stay out as long as you can. If you miss it, don’t fret: The shower will still be nice the next night, too. As I describe below, the later at night you can stay out the better.

Read the article for Phil's viewing guide: http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2016/08/05/how_to_watch_the_2016_perseid_meteor_shower.html

If skies are cloudy where you are (They're predicted to be cloudy here in KC), you can always watch the NASA Livestream.


The Perseids over Denver in 2012


Astronaut Ron Garan captured this image of a Perseid meteor from the International Space Station in 2011


The Astronomy Picture of the Day website for Aug 8, featured this magnificent pic of the Perseids over Mt. Shasta, CA.

[Warpy]

1. We'll be getting cloud cover from the remnants of Javier

which is now sitting over the lower Baja Peninsula and moving north.

It's always something.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. We will have our telescope set up out in the country where there is "dark sky"

connected to our camera to take pictures. It will be fabulous! Pray for clear skys!

[Staph]

3. I have a wonderful memory of watching the Perseids.

In 1994, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by taking the whole family, including grandchildren, to spend a week in a cabin at a West Virginia state park. Their anniversary was August 10, so the timing was perfect. And the fact that Dad had taught university-level astronomy meant that he was both interested and knowledgeable. So late at night, we grabbed blankets and sleeping bags, and laid down on the road in front of the cabin, the only space with a clear view of the sky.

It is one of my favorite family memories!

[Qutzupalotl]

4. Note that local midnight means 1 a.m.

if on Daylight Saving Time, with adjustments for longitude. Local meridians are 75, 90, 105 and 120W for Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific, respectively. Add an extra 4 minutes for each degree west of your local meridian or subtract 4 minutes for each degree east you are.

Or skip the calculations and just start at 1:30 a.m.

[Delmette]

5. I watched about 7 years ago with my son.

We had a great time. It was amazing and beautiful. Maybe he will take his wife this time.

Montana will be clear of clouds.

[Judi Lynn]

6. They are deeply impressive. Thank you. n/t

[LongTomH]

7. If you go out to watch the Perseids tonight, look for the Double Cluster

http://earthsky.org/clusters-nebulae-galaxies/double-cluster-clusters-of-supergiant-suns#how

How to find the Double Cluster in Perseus. To locate the Double Cluster, find the W- or M-shaped constellation Cassiopeia the Queen. If your sky is dark enough, you will be able to see the graceful pattern of Perseus the Hero nearby. Scan between them with binoculars to find the Double Cluster. Or … draw an imaginary line from the star Navi (Gamma Cassiopeiae) through the star Ruchbah (Delta Cassiopeiae), and go about 3 times the Navi/Ruchbah distance to locate the Double Cluster.

At mid- and far-northern latitudes, the Double Cluster is circumpolar – above the horizon every night of the year at any hour of the night. If you are further south (but still in the Northern Hemisphere), try looking for the Double Cluster in the evening in autumn or winter.

Just remember … the Double Cluster is harder to see when it’s close to the horizon. If you can’t spot it between Cassiopeia and Perseus, wait until later at night, or later in the year, when it’s higher in the sky.