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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
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Summer meteor showers: When, where to see Perseids, 2 others in Ohio, US
If it feels like it's been a while since you've been able to watch a stunning meteor shower light up the night sky, you're in luck. Following a nearly two-month "shooting stars" drought, three meteor showers are set to become active concurrently in July. The celestial activity will then hit a crescendo in August with the peak of what is widely considered the best meteor shower of the year: the Perseids. Here's everything to know about the summer's upcoming meteor showers, headlined by the spectacular Perseids, and how you can see them in Ohio. Stargazers' delight: When and where to view July's major meteor showers. Perseid meteor shower underway: Where, when to look up With its whizzing meteors and blazing fireballs, the Perseid meteor shower reliably puts on a spectacle every year for stargazers around the world. Spectators who step outside at just the right time could be treated to up to 100 Perseid meteors per hour streaking across the night sky, leaving long wakes of light and color behind them. In 2025, the Perseid meteor shower is expected to become active Thursday, July 17, and remain so until Aug. 23, according to the American Meteor Society. The Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere. Once the sun sets and the moon is below the horizon, spectators should only have to contend with local light pollution and clouds that could interfere with the number of meteors they can see. Like all meteor showers, the Perseids are best viewed during the dark hours between midnight and dawn. However, it is possible under the right conditions to view Perseid meteors as early as 10 p.m. ET, according to NASA. But perhaps the best part of the Perseids? Because they peak in summer, spectators don't have to contend with cold weather like they do when other famous meteor showers, such as the Leonids and Geminids, hit their peak activity. When is the next meteor shower? 2 to peak at same time What's more, the Perseids aren't the only meteor shower lighting up the night sky this summer. Both the Southern delta Aquarids and the alpha Capricornids are due to peak at the same time between July 29 and July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. The Capricornids began their activity July 12 and will be followed by the Southern delta Aquarids (also spelled "Aquariids") Friday, July 18. Both meteor showers will remain active until Aug. 12. Unfortunately, neither shower is famed for being very strong. The Southern Delta Aquarids are faint meteors that are difficult enough to spot as it is. But if the moon is visible at all, it will be nearly impossible, according to NASA. These are the best places to view meteor showers in Ohio So where are the best places to go in Ohio to see the meteor showers? The International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) program, an internationally recognized organization that certifies communities, parks and protected areas around the world that preserve dark skies, has two suggestions. The IDSP-designated dark sky places in Ohio are: Geauga Observatory Park: Located in Montville Township in Geauga County, this park was selected as a dark sky park in 2011, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The park is centered around the Nassau Observatory, which moved from Cleveland to Geauga County in 1957 due to light pollution. It fell out of routine use in the 1990s. Fry Family Park: Located in Magnolia, about 10 miles south of Canton, the park also earned the distinction of being an IDSP-certified urban dark sky area, which means stargazers still get a good view of the night sky despite its proximity to a city. Other dark sky destinations around Ohio, according to Ohio Magazine, include: Burr Oak State Park: The nearest village is four miles away and has a population of less than 2,000, so it produces little light pollution. Stonelick State Park: The night skies here are some of the darkest in Ohio, according to the magazine, and it's a common destination for Cincinnati-area stargazers. Wayne National Forest: Per the magazine, the isolated Lamping Homestead Recreation Area is arguably the darkest site in Ohio's only national forest. Perseid meteor shower 2025: Here's when activity peaks This year, the Perseids are expected to peak Aug. 12-13. Though the Geminids in December are considered to be one of the strongest and most consistent meteor showers, the Perseids still result in anywhere from 50 to 100 meteors visible per hour under the right conditions. What's more, the Perseid meteor shower gained its reputation for the plentiful whizzing meteors and blazing fireballs it reliably produces each year pretty much around the globe. These large explosions of light and color can persist even longer than an average meteor streak, NASA says. Could the moon interfere with Perseids? Tips for seeing streaking meteors Unfortunately, the Perseid meteor shower is peaking three days after a full moon in 2025. For that reason, a bright waning gibbous moon could outshine the fainter of the streaking meteors and make them more difficult to spot. But for those determined to catch a few of them, NASA has these viewing tips to increase your odds: Find an area distant from city light pollution or street lights. Bring a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. The website TimeandDate also provides detailed information about where and when to see the phenomenon. What causes the Perseids? Are meteor showers 'shooting stars?' Originating from the constellation Perseus, the Perseids are made up of leftover particles from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Every year, Earth passes through the comet's debris trail, resulting in the Perseid meteor shower when the broken bits of Swift-Tuttle disintegrate in our atmosphere at high speed, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky known colloquially as "shooting stars," according to NASA. Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 Earth years to orbit the sun just once, was discovered to be the source of the Perseids in 1865 by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. Discovered in 1862, Swift-Tuttle is gargantuan — twice the size of the asteroid theorized to have wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. When was the last meteor shower? Eta Aquarids ended in May The string of summer meteor showers are the first in nearly two months since the Eta Aquarids came to an end May 28. The Aquarids, which first became active April 19, peaked between May 5 and May 6 as Earth passed through the densest part of the cosmic debris from the famous Halley's Comet. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Perseid meteor shower tops summer 'shooting stars.' How to watch in Ohio Solve the daily Crossword
India.com
02-07-2025
- India.com
Underneath A Million Stars: Guwahati's Most Stunning Cliff Vistas
Guwahati functions as Northeast India's entryway where residents can access both cultural sites and natural locations with excellent conditions for watching stars. The region surrounding Guwahati provides lesser light pollution than big metropolitan areas thus revealing various concealed observational spots that astronomy fans can use to observe celestial phenomena. The following list identifies seven outstanding cliffside locations adjacent to Guwahati which provide excellent stargazing conditions through spectacular views and negligible artificial lighting interference. 1. Chandrakona Hills Chandrakona operates as a beautiful hill destination within a 60-kilometer distance from Guwahati within Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district. A high vantage point at this location offers visitors complete views across surrounding valley locations and the night sky above. On nights without moonlight Chandrakona Hills presents perfect conditions to watch Orion and the Milky Way due to its pollution-free environment and sparse urbanization. Visitors make their travel itinerary by starting with sightseeing in the daytime before moving on to evening stargazing. 2. Umiam Lake Viewpoints To the east of Guwahati stands Umiam Lake which draws a large number of tourists visiting Meghalaya. Visitors seek out cliffs near the lake to behold stunning combined views of the reservoir below and starry space above although water activities are what people primarily associate with the lake. Stargazing is optimal on elevated areas that possess low light pollution since these spots work well for telescope observation and camera usage. 3. Kamakhya Hilltop Located near the heart of the city at Nilachal Hill stands Kamakhya Temple which simultaneously serves the spiritual needs of worshippers and offers optimal stargazing conditions. Planetary observables become more distinct on high-altitude locations despite slight distortion by city luminescence. You will experience an exceptional viewpoint at dawn when the dimming eastern sky brightens up and starlight remains visible during early morning sessions. 4. Majuli Island Riverbanks The highest point of Majuli Island stands as the largest river island in the world because its position above the Brahmaputra River provides elevated riverfront scenery similar to cliff views. These secluded areas sit about 200 kilometers from Guwahati providing faultless skies since there is no artificial lighting present. The cold winter air provides exceptional visibility that lets viewers see meteor showers such as the Geminids and Leonids during night time. 5. Hajo Pancha Ratna Temple Area Located within 24 kilometers west of Guwahati, Hajo becomes famous for its historic temples as well as its spiritual importance. The hilly landscape demonstrates advantages for space observation activities. Pancha Ratna Temple stands atop a little hill where its location creates an isolated relaxation space that protects viewers from the activity of the town below. The location provides unobstructed views of Scorpius and Sagittarius which dominate the southern part of the night sky during clear conditions. Conclusion Near Guwahati you will discover a simple yet exciting opportunity to join nature and space exploration that provides inner peace. The combination of mist-covered Chandrakona hills with peaceful Majuli riverfronts provides beautiful contrasting experiences and distinct obstacles for each location. The night sky can be observed from multiple hidden cliff locations where astronomy enthusiasts and casual stargazers both discover the marvels of outer space. Your upcoming stargazing experience explained here requires equipment and friend participation to reveal magnificent universe insights about outer space alongside your personal inner journey.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Science
- Forbes
These Are The Meteor Showers Not To Miss In 2025 — By An Expert
In 2025, stargazers can look forward to five noteworthy meteor showers, despite some challenges ... More posed by moonlight. With the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower last night, shooting star season has begun. For stargazers, it's a big deal. Sure, you can see shooting stars any night of the week that comes as a surprise, but that's blind luck. To see them on purpose requires planning. Major meteor showers tend to come on softly, build to a crescendo on one particular night, and then fade out again. However, many of the major meteor showers in 2025 will be non-events, with strong moonlight rendering all but exceptionally bright shooting stars invisible (for example, August's Perseids will be washed out by an 84%-lit moon). Here are the five major meteor showers of 2025 to plan for — taking into account the maximum expected rates on peak night and the moon phase — the first of which is about to commence. Peak night: Monday-Tuesday, May 4-5, 2025 Named after a star in the constellation Aquarius, from which its shooting stars appear to emanate, the Eta Aquarids are caused by Halley's Comet, peaking in the early hours of Monday, May 5. The Southern Hemisphere will have the best views, with up to 60 meteors per hour streaking across the sky, while the Northern Hemisphere will see about half as many. The event will peak at about midnight, but strong moonlight means the best window is about 3:30 a.m. through 5:00 a.m.— set your alarm! Peak night: Tuesday-Wednesday, July 29-30, 2025 Though less famous than August's Perseids, the Southern Delta Aquariids may offer 2025's best summer meteor display, thanks to a 27%-lit waxing crescent moon that sets shortly after sunset. That leaves midnight to dawn perfectly dark for viewing its expected 15-20 meteors per hour. As a bonus, the same night sees the peak of the Alpha Capricornids, which will add another 5-10 meteors per hour, but with an important twist: they're well known for fireballs — slow, brilliant meteors that can outshine Venus. 385552 01: Halley's Comet in 1986. (Photo by Liaison) Peak night: Wednesday-Thursday, October 22-23, 2025 The second meteor shower created by Halley's Comet, the Orionids are fast and often leave persistent glowing trails. In 2025, they peak with a waning crescent moon just 2% illuminated, rising well after dawn. This means dark skies all night long, ideal for catching up to 20 meteors per hour. Peak night: Saturday-Sunday, November 16-17, 2025 The Leonids are famous for occasional meteor storms, though none are predicted in 2025. Still, their meteors are the fastest of any annual shower, streaking in at 160,000 mph (257,000 km/h). A waning crescent moon just 9%-lit will rise during shortly before dawn, but not interfere with the Leonids. Peak viewing will be after midnight, when observers should expect 10–20 meteors per hour — with a few spectacular fireballs possible. Peak night: Friday-Saturday, December 12-13, 2025 If you only watch one meteor shower in 2025, make it the Geminids. With up to 150 meteors per hour, they're the most prolific of the year, and their bright, slow-moving and even multi-colored meteors make them easy to see — and even photograph. In 2025, a waning crescent moon rising around 2:00 a.m. means dark skies for most of the night, particularly the prime hours between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Expect bold fireballs. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
