Perseid meteor shower at its peak at night

According to experts, the annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak on Tuesday evening. An increase in meteor intensity has already been recorded over the weekend.

The reason the Perseids zoom across the night sky at the same time every year is that Earth passes through the orbit of a comet (109P/Swift-Tuttle) on its path around the Sun. As this comet approaches the Sun, it loses small pieces of rock and dust. If Earth flies through this region, the rock fragments burn up in the atmosphere as meteors – more on this in Perseid meteor shower before maximum (science.ORF.at, August 9, 2024)

Thunderstorms are looming.

However, the weather forecast for the night is not favorable everywhere. According to the ORF Meteorological Service, there will be widespread cloud cover towards the evening, and there may be isolated thunderstorms at night. Storm clouds are moving from west to east.

However, the lighting conditions are particularly good this year as it is clear. “The Moon is not a problem this year because we are only close to the new Moon and it is currently emitting relatively little light,” astrophysicist Michael Feuchtinger explained to Science.ORF.at.

Feuchtinger recommends a location with as little light pollution as possible for observing. Looking east increases your chances of using the W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia as a landmark.

The towers in all their glory

Anyone who wants to enjoy the scenery under professional supervision can take advantage of the many offers offered by Lower Austria's observatories. The Lower Austrian People's Observatory in Michelbach (St. Pölten district) offers paid tours and meteor observations through a telescope.

“The Milky Way, the Lyra, the Swan, the Eagle and Sagittarius characterize the skyscape. The Moon with its craters and the ringed planet Saturn are among the things to watch on this night tour. ‘A paradise for binoculars too,’ says the advertisement.

Mars and Jupiter meet

At the Astronomical Center Martinsberg (AZM) (Zwettl region), the Perseids can be observed almost all night long, ideally from 11 p.m., after which, according to the event announcement, the Moon will have completely disappeared. In the early morning hours there will also be the opportunity to watch the conjunction of Mars and Jupiter through a telescope.

At the Lesser Berg Observatory in Ernstbrunn (Korneuburg district), astronomers explain the starry sky in the evening. The Astronomy and Space Interest Group in Großmugl (Korneuburg district) held its event scheduled for Monday on Sunday due to improved visibility.