Astronomy and shooting stars.

[Ken Tram]

I tried watching the Perseids last night, after midnight, and nasty have seen a couple of flashes. I'm not sure. Some tips would be warmly welcomed!

Firstly, which eye be best location: (a) a park surrounded by trees - very dark, but field of view limited; or (b) a field with huge field of view, but the glow of a town 5 miles away on the horizon. 

Or should I drive to an official dark space, but if I do, I might struggle to find a place to actually go in the middle of the night.

Edited August 12 by Boycie
I’m told emoji’s mess with google analytics, so I’ve removed it.

[Ken Tram]

Another question. If lying down, I found that I could see the sky above my head better than down towards my feet. And to the side was even better! So ... if these Perseids are supposed to be too the north east, if I'm on my back, which compass point might I point my head?

[Ken Tram]

Final question. They say there could be 100 shooting stars per hour. But are these just flashes that I might not write know whether or not I saw it. How many of these in an hour might be more like a steak and a more tropical shooting star?

[Wolfie20]

For the major meteor showers I set my camera up - long exposure at frequent intervals and last night it looked as though I caught maybe a dozen or so out of 200+ photos. There's plenty of websites detailing roughly where in the sky to concentrate on and apps which can guide you to those locations.

As far as the 2 options are concerned, if using an app which tells you which part of the sky to look at, I would go for (a) - get yourself a comfy recliner, lie back and wait. What you should see is a streak of light quickly flashing across the sky but don't expect to see what's often shown on news items - they are shot with some quite expensive and sophisticated gear.

I might have another go tonight but might try videoing for as long as my fully-charged battery lasts, rather than taking long-exposure photos.

[therealhantsram]

Key thing is to look in the right direction. That will help a lot - They are called the Perseids and you will find they come from the constellation of Perseus.  If you are familiar with the W shaped constellation of Cassiopeia, you will find Perseus sort of to the left. If not, use an app to help you. Sky Map is good. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details/Sky_Map?id=com.google.android.stardroid&hl=en_GB

When I have watched them before, it's been from a location a bit like a park in my housing estate. I recall seeing about one a minute. Some bigger than others. If you're looking in the right direction I think you should see a streak not a flash, but its not like in the movies where the meteor takes 2-3 seconds to cross your field of view. They are very fast and streak by in a fraction of a second.

[Bris Vegas]

I slept in a beach cabin in Tulum for a week or so some 15 years ago. I've never seen anything like it, and we didn't puposely stay there to do some stargazing, but it was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

Warm nights, lying on the beach, very little light pollution and a sky packed with bright stars.

I must have seen dozens of shooting stars.

[Ken Tram]

8 minutes ago, Bris Vegas said:

I slept in a beach cabin in Tulum for a week or so some 15 years ago. I've never seen anything like it, and we didn't puposely stay there to do some stargazing, but it was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

Warm nights, lying on the beach, very little light pollution and a sky packed with bright stars.

I must have seen dozens of shooting stars.

I should go somewhere like that. Lying on a beach having at the stars sounds idyllic.

[Ken Tram]

49 minutes ago, therealhantsram said:

Key thing is to look in the right direction. That will help a lot - They are called the Perseids and you will find they come from the constellation of Perseus.  If you are familiar with the W shaped constellation of Cassiopeia, you will find Perseus sort of to the left. If not, use an app to help you. Sky Map is good. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details/Sky_Map?id=com.google.android.stardroid&hl=en_GB

When I have watched them before, it's been from a location a bit like a park in my housing estate. I recall seeing about one a minute. Some bigger than others. If you're looking in the right direction I think you should see a streak not a flash, but its not like in the movies where the meteor takes 2-3 seconds to cross your field of view. They are very fast and streak by in a fraction of a second.

Thanks. I've downloaded the App.

[Ken Tram]

56 minutes ago, Wolfie20 said:

For the major meteor showers I set my camera up - long exposure at frequent intervals and last night it looked as though I caught maybe a dozen or so out of 200+ photos. There's plenty of websites detailing roughly where in the sky to concentrate on and apps which can guide you to those locations.

As far as the 2 options are concerned, if using an app which tells you which part of the sky to look at, I would go for (a) - get yourself a comfy recliner, lie back and wait. What you should see is a streak of light quickly flashing across the sky but don't expect to see what's often shown on news items - they are shot with some quite expensive and sophisticated gear.

I might have another go tonight but might try videoing for as long as my fully-charged battery lasts, rather than taking long-exposure photos.

Thanks. I'll check out my phone camera options. I guess that is I put it on the ground, o could do long exposures, but would lose my night vision every time I set-up a new photo. Or, might do the video option that you also suggested.

[RoyMac5]

"How can I watch the Perseid meteor shower?

To find the Perseid meteor shower, it is best to look for the point in the sky where they appear to originate from, which is known as the radiant.

The Perseids' radiant is in the Perseus constellation, external. A stargazing app can help you find the exact location you should look towards, depending on your location in the UK.

But try to get to the darkest location you can with an wide, unobstructed view, as the meteors can appear in any section of the sky.

The darker it is where you are, the better chance you'll have of seeing meteors streaking across the sky - and give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adapt to the night.

“Fill your view with as much of the sky as you possibly can, lying down or using a deck chair and then just wait and allow your eyes to adapt to the dark and eventually, fingers crossed, if it's nice and clear and you're watching for an hour or so, you should at least be able to catch a handful," said Dr Brown."

More info in the article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjmm42jmy44o

[Ken Tram]

45 minutes ago, RoyMac5 said:

But try to get to the darkest location you can with an wide, unobstructed view, as the meteors can appear in any section of the sky.

The darker it is where you are, the better chance you'll have of seeing meteors streaking across the sky - and give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adapt to the night.

If I have to choose between the two, should I go for darker area or a wide view of the sky?

[RoyMac5]

15 minutes ago, Ken Tram said:

If I have to choose between the two, should I go for darker area or a wide view of the sky?

We went out in the back garden last night, looking NE. Some light pollution, so I'd plump for darker sky, because evn if no meteors (and there where lots of satellites last night) the stars are so impressive.

[Ken Tram]

I saw a satellite, although I pretended to myself that it may have been the space station. 

The darkness caused by the surrounding trees did heighten the number of visible stars, and it was more beautiful than the lighter open-space that I went to after that.

[Ken Tram]

It seems that the moon sets at 2230. Yesterday, the media websites suggested after midnight would be the best time.

[Ken Tram]

Grrr. I had a plan! I had scouted a wooded glade, but according to the Sky Map App, the Perseids will be about 20⁰ advice the horizon, so perhaps I have to go to a brighter but more open viewing spot.

[RoyMac5]

31 minutes ago, Ken Tram said:

Grrr. I had a plan! I had scouted a wooded glade, but according to the Sky Map App, the Perseids will be about 20⁰ advice the horizon, so perhaps I have to go to a brighter but more open viewing spot.

There are meteors 'all over the sky' I wouldn't get too hung up about 20 degrees. Think it will be all night, the info was circa 100/hour peak tonight. Just somewhere dark firstly. We saw some and were only in the garden for 20 mins or so - at about 11:15, our bed time! Lol.

[Foreveram]

5 hours ago, Bris Vegas said:

I slept in a beach cabin in Tulum for a week or so some 15 years ago. I've never seen anything like it, and we didn't puposely stay there to do some stargazing, but it was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

Warm nights, lying on the beach, very little light pollution and a sky packed with bright stars.

I must have seen dozens of shooting stars.

I spent 3 nights in Mexico sleeping under the stars, that was more alcohol induced though 😂

It is amazing though how many stars you can see looking out over the Caribbean Sea.

The lightning shows are spectacular as well.

[Ken Tram]

I love these seascape star gazing stories. They risk me wanting to do the same.

[Comrade 86]

Post some pics when you can @Ken Tram 🙏

[Ken Tram]