An impressive meteor shower (aka Shooting Stars) will be seen over the UK this weekend, if the clouds stay away and tonight (12-13th August 2007) will be the most striking because it will be a new moon and we should see a meteor every 45 seconds and possibly there could be much more than that. Unfortunately the north of the country and Scotland may not be as good, as there are heavy clouds and rain forecast although if you are patient you should still see an exciting performance.
Try and drive out of town as artificial street and home/business lighting will weaken the event so a lay-by on the side of the road is perfect, I remember going out about 3am with my two sons a few years ago and we saw the most incredible sights, it really is worth staying up or getting up early and if you are superstitious you can make some wishes at the same time. The year’s largest display of meteors, although started Friday it peaks on the morning of 13th August, when the Earth sweeps through the dust trail left by the Swift-Tuttle comet in 1992.
The meteors can be expected after sunset, barring clouds, with the north-east the best place to look because the sky will be darkest. The display should be best between 12am and 4am – although the bright and almost full moon will outshine some falling stars – and around 10 o’clock tonight while the moon is low. If you have never seen a meteor shower, this is a really good opportunity to watch one. It should be spectacular.
The nice thing about it is that it is really easy to watch and you do not need any specialist viewing equipment other than a pair of eyes. You just have to get out of bed and look toward the northeast and/or east. Even if you just watch for a few minutes, you should see quite a few meteors.The Perseids are made up of dusty debris shed by Comet Swift-Tuttle, discovered in 1862. Each year the Earth’s orbit causes it to plough through the meteors, which burn up as they shoot through the upper atmosphere.
Most of the meteors are no bigger than a grain of sand, but as they shoot through the Earth’s atmosphere at around 135,000mph they burn up in a bright light and many leave a glowing streak in their wake. Occasionally they ignite into a bright fireball as larger meteors shoot through. Chinese records from 36AD contain the earliest reports of the Perseids. You should also watch out for Mars, which will be especially bright in the northern sky tonight. Have fun and sorry I only have an update for the UK, try doing awww.google.co.uk search for your area.
Responses to “Make a wish tonight…”
1. Snoskred Says:
August 14th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Hey, it’s Snoskred again. I am in Australia and they said ours wouldn’t be very good but I was going to watch anyway – but it was not clear skies. 🙁 Maybe next year. 😉
Every few months or so I like to drop by and let you know I’m still reading you via the google reader. I do want you to know that I love your work and enjoy your writing.
On this visit I have something else to mention. I’ve finally bought myself my own domain. I’ve also had a facelift. No, not to my actual face, to the site. 😉 I made a new title graphic, changed the template, and a few other things.
If you are reading my blog via a feedreader, you don’t have to change anything as far as I know, you’ll still be getting my posts. If you’re not reading my blog, and you have a spare second, maybe you can drop by and say hi and let me know what you think of my new layout! 😉
Snoskred – has a new home at –
http://www.snoskred.org/
please update your linkage, if you link to me!
Thanks!
2. Andy Says:
August 16th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Hi, This website is amazing and so much diverse information. I have just spent the day looking through it and still not covered everything.
I think you should have more links to different parts of the website as many people might think it is just a blog website.
Thanks again and very nice work.
Andy
3. Marie Says:
August 16th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
We watched it over the weekend, it was a sight to see and in Scotland (Tong) the weather at night was not as bad as they thought.
Marie (Scotland)
4. Suyi Says:
August 19th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Hello Your web has been most informative and enjoyable to read. I am hoping to put some of your teaching to use on a house my husband and I are buying. It definately needs an upstairs toilet and shower room in the West and Southwest direction (230 to 270 degrees). I am very concern if I would disturb the tai shui this year or should the renovation be postponed to next year. I would also like to have an extension on the house in the South, Southwest and West directions in the future (the house is rectangular facing Southeast). When will be the best year to do so, so as not to disturb the tai shui?
Thank you for all your help.
Suyi (Belgium)
5. Tanya Says:
August 21st, 2007 at 8:43 am
Hi Michael,
We are looking to move back to the UK very soon and the house we are interested in was built sometime in the late 1800’s (main) with an extension of kitchen, bathroom and garage added around 1955. Do I determine the priod from the originl build or the extension. The majority of the extension will be knocked down and rebuilt – again will this change the period?
Thanks for your help, Tanya
