Perseid meteors .. Where and when can you see them?

Weather of Arabia - Astronomy amateurs in the Arab world are waiting for the advent of 2023, when they will have a unique opportunity to witness the Perseids meteor showers in a way that they have not witnessed in previous years. This event coincides with the appearance of a bright moon and clear night skies

On the night between August 12 and 13, the moon will be a thin crescent that rises near dawn, which will create a large period of nocturnal darkness suitable for observing this wonderful celestial phenomenon. This will provide an ideal opportunity for astronomers in the Arab world to explore and witness the beauty and magnificence of this shower of meteors

What is the reason for the appearance of meteor showers?

Usually, you can see one or two meteors in the sky each night. But on certain nights of each year, a special phenomenon called the "Meteor Shower" occurs, in which the number of meteors increases dramatically, reaching hundreds.

To understand the cause of these massive meteor showers , you can imagine yourself driving on a highway, then passing a smoke cloud caused by a fire on the side of the road. This is exactly what Earth does during those special nights. As the Earth revolves around the sun, it passes the remnants of comets or asteroids that get in its path, and causes these rocky remnants to enter the Earth's atmosphere at very high speeds. When it comes into contact with the atmosphere, these radioactive remnants burn up and turn into what is known as a meteor.

When do the Perseids meteor showers appear?

Therefore, meteor showers have specific dates every year. The Perseids meteor showers start precisely from July 17 and continue until August 24 of each year.

During those nights, a large number of meteors can be seen due to the Earth's meeting with the remnants of the comet known as "109 B / Swift-Tuttle". This period provides a wonderful opportunity for astronomy lovers to enjoy watching this picturesque celestial phenomenon and its beauty.

At the height of that shower, that is, the moment when the earth passes with the greatest density of comet remnants, approximately 90-100 meteors can be observed per hour, and this wonderful phenomenon occurs on the night between August 12 and 13.

And the closer we get to the morning hours, the higher the rates of meteors and the greater the opportunities to see more of them, and the shower is noticeable in all countries of the Arab world, each according to its local time. Therefore, astronomers in various Arab countries and regions will have a unique opportunity to enjoy the amazing meteor show and those magical moments in the sky.

Why were the Perseids meteors called by this name?

The Perseid Meteor Shower was named after the place in the sky from which the meteors seem to radiate, and the center of the meteor shower is in the constellation Perseus .

How can I watch the Perseids meteors?

Observing meteor showers is a simple celestial phenomenon that does not require complex astronomical tools. All you need to do is relax and lie on the ground, raise your head to look at the sky, and then enjoy watching the shooting stars pass over you. You can see meteors with the naked eye.

Usually, the roof of the house is a suitable place for observing meteor showers. However, it is unfortunate that city lights block us from seeing many meteors, and in bright cities, it may be difficult to see more than 5 meteors per hour. While in remote places, such as the desert or villages far from cities, you can easily see the maximum number of Perseid meteors per hour, which is about 100.

The Perseid meteor showers are considered the most important in the Arab world, as they coincide with the months of the summer holidays and their peak occurs during the night in the sky of the Arab world. For this reason, lovers of astronomy and the sky are eagerly waiting for it from ocean to gulf in order to enjoy its brilliant luster and beauty.