The Perseids in August: Don't miss the peak of this spectacular meteor shower

“The Pers& ;Eids in August: Don't miss the peak of this spectacular meteor shower”

SHOOTING STARS. The Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak of activity in the coming days. Here is all the information to not miss this exceptional spectacle that will take place above our heads.

Since mid-July, shooting stars have been streaking the sky night after night to the delight of astronomy enthusiasts. This splendid phenomenon will last until the end of August but will reach a peak of intensity in a few days, promising an unforgettable evening for the curious who will raise their noses to the sky tonight. To not miss this spectacle, come on the night of August 11 to 12. The opportunity to make a multitude of wishes, provided that the weather is conducive.

This year, thanks to a particularly discreet Moon, the conditions are right for the Perseids to offer us a dazzling spectacle with up to 110 shooting stars per hour at the peak of intensity. Although shooting stars are visible all over the sky, to maximize your chances of spotting them, simply look to the northeast and be patient. Hot drink, deckchair, blanket and sky map, an unforgettable evening awaits you!

The Perseids are a meteor shower that occurs every year in August. They are caused by comet 109P/Swift Tuttle, whose debris cloud our planet crosses at this time of year. The name given to the Perseids comes from the constellation Perseus, where the starting point of the meteors is located. Theoretically, between 70 and 110 shooting stars occur per minute during the peak intensity of the Perseids. Depending on weather conditions, light pollution and the brightness of the shooting stars, it is unfortunately not possible to see them all. But with a little patience, you should still be able to witness a spectacle and see many shooting stars streaking across the sky.

You can see shooting stars at from sunset but to admire a maximum of shooting stars, you will have to wait until the Moon has passed behind the horizon to enjoy a very dark sky. Fortunately, the latter will set early in the night, around midnight at the peak. From that moment, you will have until sunrise to enjoy the show whose light will be perceptible between 5am and 6am. This will therefore give you several hours to look up at the sky and multiply your wishes!

The Perseids extend over several weeks of the summer, but the phenomenon becomes particularly intense during one night when the shooting stars become very numerous for a few hours. This year, the peak will occur on the night of August 11 to 12 and will be easily visible thanks to optimal observation conditions. It is therefore the celestial event not to be missed for astronomy lovers!

The Perseid meteor shower is visible throughout France, allowing everyone to enjoy it. However, to see as many meteors as possible, it is strongly recommended to stay away from urban areas where the lights prevent you from enjoying the darkness of the sky. The best spots for observing the Perseids are therefore the countryside well away from built-up areas. At the seaside or in the mountains you will also benefit from good darkness to distinguish the shooting stars crossing the black sky, provided you stay away from any light pollution.

Shooting stars can be observed by everyone without any equipment provided that the weather is good and that no clouds come to disturb the party. Just look at the sky and wait a little. With a little luck, you should see several in the same evening. Ideally, bring a hot drink to stay outside without getting cold and make yourself comfortable. Shooting stars generally leave a luminous trail that allows them to be easily spotted.

To identify the constellation of Perseus, where the Perseids come from, you can get a sky map or use a mobile application like Sky Tonight, available on Google Play or the App Store. This application will allow you to quickly find the area of ​​the sky to observe so as not to miss the show.