Observers can look out for the shower wherever they are, but there are certain kinds of places that will increase your chances of spotting meteors.
Plan ahead and check the weather forecast. If it is likely to be inclement, find a different location or go out on a different day. The days leading up to the peak are usually better than the days after. Reduce the amount of light pollution in your field of view.
This could mean heading out to the countryside, a nearby park or even do something as simple as turning your back to street lamps if you are not able to go anywhere. Give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark so that you can catch more of the fainter meteors — this does mean that you should not look at your phone!
Meteors can appear in any part of the sky so the more sky you can see the better. Find an area with a clear view of the horizon and away from trees and buildings. Binoculars and telescopes are not necessary as they will restrict the size of the sky that will be visible to you.
However, there are many astronomical targets to look out for that would look magnificent through a telescope — take a look at our Night Sky highlights to find out more. Let our practical astronomy guides, approved by Royal Observatory astronomers, help you navigate the night sky. In the Perseid meteor shower is active between 16 July and 23 August , with the number of meteors increasing every night until it reaches a peak in mid-August, after which it will tail off. This year the peak falls on the night of the 12th and before dawn on 13 August.
The best time to see anything in the night sky is when the sky is darkest and when the target is at its highest position in the sky. Carry out regular lens checks, armed with a 12V hairdryer to clear any moisture. Pre-focus the lens at infinity; using the Live View function on a bright object such as Jupiter is one way to achieve this.
Take a test shot and examine it. This part of the process requires patience. Set the camera going, sit back and enjoy the visual view. Next, download the images and go through them looking for meteor trails.
A program such as Faststone View is good for this. This three-part series of talks will arm you with the knowledge and methods for taking stunning images of the night sky with a smartphone, a DSLR camera and specialist astro cameras.
Virtual Event 23 September 28 October 25 November. Book now. Find out how to send us your astrophotos , or get in touch via Facebook , Twitter and Instagram. Pete Lawrence is an experienced astronomer and a co-presenter of The Sky at Night.
Home Advice Skills How to see the Perseid meteor shower. A chart showing the movement of the Perseid meteor shower radiant in Credit: Pete Lawrence. Equipment: Canon 5D3, mm lens, tripod mount. A red torch enables you to check charts without ruining dark adapted vision. Lying or reclining is a great way to observe meteor showers without getting cramp in your neck.
Equipment: Digital camera. Equipment: Canon D, Samyang 14mm. Equipment: Sony A7s, Samyang 12mm fisheye. The short and warm nights of mid August are ideal conditions for photographing the Perseids. Please try another date. Select dates above the sky map. Need some help? The Perseids are one of the brighter meteor showers of the year. They occur every year between July 17 and August 24 and tend to peak around August Made of tiny space debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus.
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