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The Perseids are the highlight for shooting star hunters. But the peak will be in 2024. An expert reveals when you might still get lucky.
Munich – The Perseids, the annual meteor shower that occurs in August, are particularly popular with stargazers because they can often be observed in pleasant summer weather. In 2024, however, the maximum of the meteor shower falls at an unfavorable time for European observers: It occurs in the afternoon and evening of August 12, when the sky is still too bright to see shooting stars. This raises the question of when the best time to observe the Perseids is in 2024.
Uwe Pilz, an expert from the Association of Star Friends (VdS), recommends Merkur.de von IPPEN.MEDIAto observe the Perseids “during the second half of the night.” “The moon does not set until around 11 p.m.,” explains Pilz, and continues: “The radiant, i.e. the place from which the Perseids come, is at its highest at the end of the night.”
Perseid meteors fly across the sky. (Archive image) © IMAGO/CFOTO
Observe the Perseids as close as possible to the meteor shower maximum
It is advisable to observe the shooting stars as close as possible to the Perseids’ maximum. In 2024, this would be the night of August 12-13 and the early morning of August 13. The later at night you observe the sky, the greater the chance of seeing many shooting stars. Theoretically, up to 100 shooting stars per hour can be observed during the Perseids’ maximum.
However, this number is based on ideal observation conditions, which are rarely achieved. Therefore, star expert Pilz gives a more realistic estimate: “From a dark location, you can expect 20 to 30 meteors per hour.” This is still an impressive number, since you could see a shooting star flying across the sky every two to three minutes.
Time for wishes: Shooting stars fly across the night sky
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For a successful night of shooting stars you need a good observation spot
But what is the best way to observe shooting stars? For a successful “shooting star night” you should choose an observation location that meets two criteria: the sky should be as dark as possible and you should have a good all-round view of the sky. Shooting stars can appear anywhere in the dark sky. If you follow their luminous trail, they appear to stream from the constellation Perseus – the radiant.
This constellation appears in the northeast at sunset and moves higher throughout the night, reaching its highest visible position in the sky before dawn. However, the Perseids are visible throughout the sky – you don’t have to find the constellation in the sky to spot shooting stars.
Observation tips for hunting the Perseid shooting stars
To persevere in the shooting star hunt, it is advisable to adopt a comfortable position – for example on a deck chair or blanket to get a good view of the sky. Warm clothes and warm drinks are also recommended – even the warmest summer days can be followed by cool summer nights.
Anyone who seriously wants to look for shooting stars should also have a lot of patience. This is necessary to see shooting stars. You should also remember that the human eye needs time to get used to the darkness. After about 20 minutes, the adjustment to the darkness is complete and the eye can see more – but you should then avoid blinding it and also avoid a bright cell phone or camera display. Then nothing stands in the way of a successful night of shooting stars. (tab)
