There’s something magical about summer, isn’t there? Somehow, no matter how stressed and overwhelmed we are, we all still manage to become a bit more nonchalant. We don’t feel as guilty about taking a lazy day and going out is a must even for the professional couch potatoes.
There are many things that make summer dreamier than the rest of them. Crystal-blue seas for one. Ice cream any day of the week. Late nights and flowing dresses.
In case you were wondering, I have a thing for summer. Most especially because this is the season when the sky throws its own party. We’re never invited, but we do get to see the meteor showers coursing through the summer night sky.
Anytime you look up at the sky between the 17th of July and August 24th, you can spot a shooting star coursing through the sky. Some shooting stars go by in a flash, leaving you to scrape up a wish quickly to make it count. Others, however, move very slowly, and you are always unsure of whether it’s a star or a plane until it suddenly flashes off into the darkness of the sky.
Meteor showers during this time are nothing new. Astronomers and dreamers love this time of the year because it’s not something you see every day. But this year, the show will be even more special.
The show is set to happen on the 12th of August. Astronomers have shared that it will be “the brightest shower recorded in human history.” For another show of this kind, you will have to wait a couple more years….
…specifically, 96 more years. So, unless you’re planning on taking an immortality pill, you might as well leave that day clear so as not to miss the show. Because, really, why would anyone want to miss something so beautiful?
The sky will be lit up on the 12th of August. But there’s more. You might even be able to spot shooting stars during the day! Yeh, it’s going to be THAT bright.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. So, you know, you might want to share it with someone special, someone you really love. I don’t know, like your cat or yourself.
Obviously, the best way to see this phenomenon is when the sky is at its darkest. Finding somewhere where there aren’t a lot of street lights is the first step. Astronomers suggest more, however.
For the sky to be at its darkest, astronomers suggest you wait until right before dawn. It appears that at this time, the sky will be at its darkest. Accordingly, you will be able to see the meteor shower at its best.
If you really can’t make it on the 12th, don’t worry. The Perseid meteor shower peaks around the 9-13 of August. So you can still spot a number of shooting stars during one of these days.
The peak happens yearly and is always falls around these five days. Do I feel special because the peak falls right on my birthday? Um, yes, very much so, if you must know.
“While you can easily see a shooting star with the naked eye just looking straight up, the table [above] shows the exact direction of the Perseids from your location. The Perseids can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere. Look between the radiant, which will be in the north-east part of the sky, and the zenith (the point in the sky directly above you).”
So now you know. Right before dawn is best. The 12th is the ideal day and this will happen again in 96 years. I’ll be watching, will you?