Why the “night of shooting stars” promises to be grandiose this Monday, August 12

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The time is ideal, summer and the mild nighttime temperatures allow everyone, a little curious, to enjoy a spectacle that is both free and magical: the night of the shooting stars. This is a shower of shooting stars to be admired as soon as night falls, the maximum of the Perseid shower (the stars seem to come from the radiant of the constellation of Perseus) is expected on the night of August 11 to 12.

The night of the (shooting) stars 2024: Where? When? How?

Indeed, if the Perseid shooting stars period extends from July 17 to August 24, the maximum will occur on the night of August 11 to 12. It is during this period that the Earth crosses a cloud of debris, which causes what is called a swarm (or a shower of shooting stars). Thus, during the densest period, 70 to 110 shooting stars can be observed each hour.

To enjoy it, simply settle down (comfortably if possible) in a well-opened place protected from stray light. Lying down on the ground is an excellent way to fully enjoy the event. But why this star shower at this time in August?? Because every year, the Earth passes through a cloud of dust and pebbles, remains of the comet 109P Swift-Tuttle. At the beginning of the year, a first shower of shooting stars could already be observed.

The good news this year is that the moon should not interfere too much with good stargazing. It will only be in its first quarter, and will therefore allow the sky to remain dark enough to allow maximum visibility. Note that the night of the stars is also an ideal opportunity to explore the constellations (including with the naked eye), with the possibility of distinguishing many of them, without forgetting the Milky Way of course, which will be largely visible.

Note that during the night, through a telescope, it will also be possible to see Saturn very clearly, not to mention Jupiter and Mars which will be very close to each other. Various cosmic wonders will also be admired in the deep sky, located at immensely distant distances from our good old planet Earth.

Note that according to various astronomers, the 2028 edition should be exceptional in every way. Indeed, the Earth could then pass less than 60,000 kilometers from a flow of debris that the comet Swift-Tuttle left behind (in 1479), and then allow us to observe a real meteor storm. We have been warned.

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