Perseids 2023. What is a shooting star night? Where do we see the peak of the Perseid shower?

The Perseids are one of the most regular of all meteor showers, as their orbit crosses Earth every year. This phenomenon can be observed from approximately mid-July to the second half of August. Maximum swarming occurs on August 12th and 13th.

Perseids will look very normal this year. Maximum there will be a chance of seeing 50-80 “meteors” per hour. It is not easy to predict their exact number – explained Dr. Kamil Derez of the Planetarium of the Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw.

The crowning swarm this year is at night from Saturday to Sunday, and most of the “shooting stars” will appear on Sunday morning. – The moon in such a phase would not be very bright at this time. The expert noted that the best observing conditions would be outside cities, away from the lights.

You don’t need telescopes or binoculars to observe the “falling stars”, just with the naked eye.

Meteors, colloquially known as shooting stars, are a luminous phenomenon that arises during the passage through the atmosphere of rock particles from space, called meteors. The vast majority of them are destroyed in the atmosphere. Very bright meteorites are called bolides, and if rocks that have flown into the atmosphere manage to survive and reach the Earth’s surface, they are meteorite.

The so-called radiant of the Perseids – the point from which they appear if we extend their celestial paths – in the constellation Perseus. However, these objects “scatter” all over the sky. During the activity of the swarm, the radiation moves between the constellations Cassiopeia, Perseus and the Giraffe, and at its greatest extent it will be in the constellation Perseus.

The Persians were in the past called “The Tears of St. Lawrence,” which was connected to the date of his alleged martyrdom on August 10.

Many planetariums and other centers in Poland organize a joint show of “shooting stars”. For example, in Warsaw, you will be able to look up at the sky in the green area above the Boulevard – between the Copernicus Science Center (CNK) and the Copernicus Revolution Laboratory. According to the organizers of the meeting, in order to make the sky darker during the observation, the lighting of the Copernicus Science Center, the planetarium, the surrounding bridges and other objects will be turned off.

The Shooting Stars Picnic is organized by the Astronomical Observatory in Piwnice, 14 kilometers from Toruń (the observatory is part of the Institute of Astronomy of Nicolaus Copernicus University).

In turn, the Olsztyn Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory invites you to the Warmian Perseid Night with Copernicus. Many attractions, including a presentation of Copernicus’ instruments, will await those interested, 15 of which are in Olsztyn Central Park.

From August 12 to 15, the 11th Dark Sky Festival will also take place in Subotnja Wilka (Silesian Voivodeship), as part of the “Dark Sky” program of the Polaris Association – OPP. The peak of the Perseid shower this time is close to the new moon, which provides ample opportunities for observing the dark sky and the opportunity to hold workshops on reducing light pollution “under ideal conditions” – the event organizers emphasized. Observations will be possible in the Botanical Garden in Łódź – the meeting is organized by Zielona Łódź and the EC1 Planetarium. A reflecting telescope must be placed in the clearing. 100 loungers are provided for Perseid Night participants, but it’s best to bring your own blanket and warm clothes. Entry is only with a valid ticket to the Botanical Gardens.

The Young Astronomical Observatory them. Kazimierz Kordylewski in Niepołomice (Małopolskie District). The place for observation will also be in the Open Air Museum in Ochla (Zielona Góra). The organizers of the “Night of the Fallen Stars” are the Kepler Science Center – Planetarium Venus, the Scientific Department of Space Engineering at the University of Zielona Góra and the Ethnographic Museum in Zielona Góra – Ochla.

Unfortunately, the ubiquitous Persians won’t be completely visible all night. According to the weather forecast prepared by tvnmeteo.pl weather forecaster Artur Chrzanowski, it can be cloudy at times in the western part of the country. Sporadic showers are also possible. In the rest of the country, clouds shouldn’t be a problem. Remember to take something warm with you just in case – the temperature will range from 11°C in Podkarbasi to 18°C ​​in Lower Silesia, and sometimes the wind can get stronger.

>>> Read more: Tomorrow’s weather – Sunday 13.08.2018 A storm front is moving across the country. up to 31 degrees