Perseid Meteor Shower

Perseid Meter Shower 2020!

Generally the brightest and most easily watched meter shower event of the year. On average 60-100 showers visible per hour at an unobstructed view from a very dark location.
Peak nights:  August  11, 12, 13, 2020  but quite visible for next week or so
Best times:  After 11pm and before moonrise.   (Moonrise on Aug 11:  12:09am  Aug 12: 12:37am  Aug 13: 1:09am)
Best view:  vertically up and slightly northeast, as much open sky as you can manage. On average 60-100 showers visible per hour at an unobstructed view from a very dark location.

Many Thanks to Corbin Covault for these tips!

Tip #1:  Find a Clear Dark Sky. Check out http://www.cleardarksky.com
Tip #2:  Avoid Light pollution
If you can’t see lots of stars you will not see lots of meteors
Tip #3:  Find the radiant but look to the zenith
Tip #4:  Use the Sky View Lite app to get oriented
Tip #5:  Be patient!  Expect a Slow Start!
– Allow 20-30 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.  Put away phone.
– Sit on “chase lounge” lawnchair or something very comfortable to allow you to sit for an hour or more looking as close as you can to straight up.
– As applicable:  a blanket, mosquito repellent
– Allow eyes to relax. Do not stare at one spot. Many meteors will start in your peripheral vision.
Tip #6:  Bring Binoculars and/or telescope to watch other featured sky objects:
– Comet NEOWISE (fading fast!) may still be (barely) visible in the northwest sky (use binoculars)
– The Milky Way (especially in direction of Cygnus) (use binoculars)
– Saturns and Juputer in the eastern sky (use telescope)
–  Mountains on the moon (binoculars/telescope)