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The Australian
5 hours ago
- Science
- The Australian
Perseids meteor shower returns to Australian skies
One of the most famous and active celestial events of the year will begin streaking across the Australian night sky from Thursday, but sky watchers may find this year's display underwhelming with a near-full moon expected to outshine the fainter meteors. Dubbed 'the best meteor shower of the year' by experts, the Perseids are one of the busiest showers with about 50 to 100 meteors seen per hour, according to NASA. The event produces fast, bright streaks and occasional fireballs, larger bursts of light caused by bigger chunks of space debris burning up in Earth's atmosphere. While best viewed from the northern hemisphere, Australian sky watchers in the Top End will be able to catch a glimpse of the famous display. Picture:. The meteors come from debris left behind by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which last passed through the inner solar system in 1992 and is almost twice the size of the asteroid believed to have wiped the dinosaurs from Earth. As Earth moves through this trail of dust and rock each year, the particles slam into our atmosphere at high speeds, creating the familiar flashes of light in the night sky. NASA says the Perseids are best viewed in the pre-dawn hours, when the sky is darkest and the shower's radiant point, the constellation Perseus, is higher above the horizon, but they can sometimes be seen from about 10pm. The meteor shower is known for occasional fireballs with up to 100 meteors seen per hour. Picture: Supplied. But there's a catch for Aussie viewers: The best views are in the Northern Hemisphere. Only those in the far north of Australia may catch a glimpse of the brighter meteors, and even then, the brightness of the moon will reduce visibility significantly. Those in southern Australia will likely miss out altogether. The shower runs from July 17 to August 23, with peak activity expected about August 12. Amelia Swan Journalist Amelia Swan joined News Corp as a cadet reporter in 2024. Amelia Swan
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
What to know about the Perseids and when to view the 2025 meteor shower
The Perseids meteor shower begins this week and is expected to offer one of the best shows in the sky of 2025. The event is considered the best meteor shower of the year, according to NASA, and is also the most popular. When is the 2025 Perseid meteor shower? The shower begins on Thursday, July 17, and will continue for several weeks, until at least Aug. 23, according to NASA and the American Meteor Society, a nonprofit organization. The meteor shower is expected to peak from Aug. 12-13, although moonlight will impact meteor visibility. The moon will be 84% full during the peak. Where and how to view the Perseids NASA says the best time to view the Perseids is early in the morning, before dawn, in the Northern Hemisphere. Sometimes, however, the meteors can be seen at night as early as 10 p.m. "The Perseids are one of the most plentiful showers with about 50 to 100 meteors seen per hour," NASA says. "They occur with warm summer nighttime weather allowing sky watchers to comfortably view them." Perseids often leave long "wakes" of color and light when they move through Earth's atmosphere. NASA notes they are also known for their fireballs. "Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak," the space agency says. "This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger particles of cometary material. Fireballs are also brighter." What causes the Perseids meteor shower? The meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through an area of space debris left by a comet coming around the sun. Debris interacts with Earth's atmosphere and disintegrates, resulting in colorful lines in the sky, according to NASA and the American Meteor Society. "The pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the Perseids originate from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle," which last visited the inner solar system in 1992, NASA says. Swift-Tuttle takes 133 years to orbit the sun, NASA said, and in 1865, Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli became the first person to determine this comet was the source of the Perseids. When looking at the Perseids, they appear to come from the constellation Perseus, which is why this meteor shower has its name. But as NASA explains, the meteors don't actually originate from the constellation. Trump pushes senators to make $9.4 trillion in spending cuts Mike Johnson breaks from Trump, calls on DOJ to release Epstein files L.A. Mayor Karen Bass says National Guard deployment in city was "a misuse" of soldiers
Time Out
14 hours ago
- Science
- Time Out
The best meteor shower of the year is on its way – here's where to see it in Australia
Cosmic junkies are in for an absolute treat this winter, with what NASA has dubbed 'the best meteor shower of the year' almost here. In 2025, the Perseid meteor shower is set to peak over northern Australian skies on August 12 or 13. While the Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, stargazers in northern Australia may still catch a glimpse of the show. Here's what you need to know about seeing the Perseid meteor shower in 2025. When is the Perseid meteor shower in Australia? The Perseids turn up every August, with the 2025 meteor shower active between July 17 and August 23. The meteor shower results from Earth passing through trails of debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet, which last travelled close to Earth in 1992. In Australia, you can expect to see up to 100 shooting stars per hour when the Perseids peak pre-dawn (between 3am and 5am) on Tuesday, August 12 or Wednesday, August 13. These meteors travel at a whopping 59 kilometres per second – that's 500 times faster than the world's speediest car – so you'll have to pay close attention. You can find the best viewing time in your city here. How to see the Perseid meteor shower in Australia? While the Perseids shine far brighter in the Northern Hemisphere, they should still be visible in northern parts of Australia. That's good news for stargazers in northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland – however, viewing may be disrupted by the almost full moon. Unfortunately, those in the southern parts of Australia will most likely miss out on seeing the Perseid meteor shower this time around. According to EarthSky's astronomers, there's 'no need to watch a specific spot in the sky, (as) meteors will be shooting all different directions.' Attempting to watch the meteor shower through binoculars or a telescope is not recommended, as you'll want to take in as much of the sky as possible. For prime viewing conditions, find a place far away from artificial city lights and give your eyes enough time (30-45 minutes) to adjust to the dark.
9 News
a day ago
- Science
- 9 News
The 'best meteor shower of the year' is about to light up the skies
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A spectacular night sky event that space pundits have dubbed "the best meteor shower of the year" is just days away. The Perseids are one of the most plentiful and brightest meteor showers, with up to 100 meteors streaking across the sky per hour, according to NASA. They are known for leaving long wakes of light and colour behind and emitting fireballs — larger explosions of light and colour that persist longer than the typical meteor streak. The Perseids meteor shower is one of the most plentiful and brightest showers. (Sanghee Liu) The meteor shower occurs annually and will begin on July 17 this year until August 23. But forecast conditions are making it difficult to view in Australia. Here is everything you need to know. Australians in the north will be able to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower, according to Monash University observational astronomer and associate professor Michael Brown. "The Perseids (are) very much best seen in the northern hemisphere, because basically, roughly from the north is where the direction of the comet debris is coming from," he said. "So while they're visible in the northern parts of Australia, they aren't really visible from the southern parts of Australia." The Perseids meteor shower in Mongolia in 2023. (Sanghee Liu) Since the Perseids are typically best suited for the northern hemisphere, northern Australians will have to be up quite early to catch sight. "The hour or two before dawn is about the best time to see them," Brown said. "Look towards the north." The Perseids meteor shower will peak around August 12 or 13. The viewing, however, may be obstructed by the almost full moon. "During the peak of the shower, the moon is up, which is going to hinder the views as the Perseids hit, unfortunately," Brown said. The Perseids meteor shower occurs every year around August. (AP) The Perseids meteor shower occurs every year around August when the Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. "This is a fairly standard Perseids meteor shower," Brown said. space meteors national Australia CONTACT US
USA Today
2 days ago
- Science
- USA Today
Stargazers' delight: When and where to view July's major meteor showers.
It's time to look up at the night sky again. You'll soon be able to see two major meteor showers: ◾ The first shower: The Southern Delta Aquariids will be active from July 18 to Aug. 12. It's expected to peak on July 29-30, according to the American Meteor Society. ◾ The second shower: The Perseid meteor shower, the largest of the two, will be active from July 17 to Aug. 23. It's expected to peak on Aug. 12 and 13, but the viewing experience may be diminished by the moon's brightness. Here's where and when you can test your stargazing skills and catch a glimpse of these popular meteor showers Where to see Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower Between July 18 and Aug. 12, you can see the Southern Delta Aquariids shower in the Northern Hemisphere by looking to the south. Under dark skies, the shower can have a maximum hourly rate of 15-20 meteors. It occurs at the beginning of the Perseids. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. Comet of origin for Southern Delta Aquariids The source of the Southern Delta Aquariids is a comet, just like other meteor showers. Comet 96P/Machholz is thought to be the source of the shower. According to EarthSky, this comet was discovered in 1986 and is noted for leaving a track of debris as it orbits the sun. More: People reported earthquakes and fire in the sky. It was probably a meteor. Where to see the Perseid meteor shower The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most impressive in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be active between July 14 to Sept. 1 and is expected to peak on the evenings of Aug. 12 and 13. The bright waning gibbous moon may impede your view as it peaks. You have the best chance of viewing meteors right before dawn. That's because the Perseids' radiant point, which is where the meteors seem to come from, is at its highest in the sky, according to EarthSky. Rural areas often see between 50 and 75 meteors per hour, according to the American Meteor Society. To get a view of it, look toward the northeast, toward the constellation Perseus. Comet of origin for Perseids The Comet Swift-Tuttle is the source of the Perseid meteor shower. According to NASA, the comet was discovered by American astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle in 1862. The space debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet interacts with our atmosphere to produce the well-known Perseid meteor shower. Which meteor shower has the brightest meteors? The most active and spectacular meteor showers are usually thought to be the Perseids and Geminids. The Geminids are active on the chilly days of December, while the Perseids peak on warm August nights, making them easier to observe. How to best view a meteor shower Tips on how to catch the best views of a meteor shower, according to EarthSky. ◾Location, location, location: Find a spot away from city lights, locate the radiant in the sky and get comfortable. ◾No lights: Your eyes will need to adjust to the darkness, which could take 15 to 20 minutes. ◾Dress for the weather: Bring blankets or a camping chair to make the viewing comfortable. ◾Relax: Chill and take in the evening's sky. Not all meteor showers are spectacular.
