dipper@utastro.UUCP (Debbie Byrd) (08/09/84)
August is generally the best time to watch meteors. We talk about this year's shower -- right after this. August 2: Meteors August is the best month of the year for stargazing. Warm weather and a beautiful night sky are two reasons. But the main reason in most years is meteors. The rich Perseid meteor shower peaks each year around August 12. The shower builds in intensity until the peak -- unfortunately this year the moon is waxing, or getting larger, while the shower is getting stronger. The moon will be full the best mornings of the meteor shower -- and all but the brightest meteors will be drowned in moonlight. Still if you go outside sometime soon in the hours after midnight, the moon will be below the horizon -- and you might see an unusual number of meteors, or shooting stars. Most meteor showers are best after midnight anyway, when the part of Earth you're standing on has turned into the meteor stream -- the stream of particles left behind in the orbits of comets. These particles remain unseen until some of them collide with Earth's atmosphere -- and vaporize -- producing a streak of light in a dark sky. Just remember -- as moonlight can spoil your view of the meteors, so can city lights -- so do get out in the country. Then, you'll not only see the meteors themselves -- but also possibly some bright vapor trails -- or maybe some exploding meteors, called bollides. The meteors seen at this time of year are also known for their wide variety of colors. Again, try watching between midnight and dawn in the next week or so. Meteor-watching is for everyone -- with no telescope, binoculars or previous knowledge of the sky required. Script by Deborah Byrd. (c) Copyright 1983, 1984 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin