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Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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Look Out Above
August 11, 2008 1:18 PM
Every year at this time, the Earth passes through the orbit of a comet called Swift-Tuttle, and the result is a pleasant sky show called the Perseid Meteor Shower. 
Even though the comet is far away now -- out beyond the orbit of Uranus -- debris from it has spread out in a ring all along its elliptical path. On Earth, if you stay up late tonight, or get up before dawn, you will see the result as shooting stars, perhaps one to two a minute, seeming to come from the constellation Perseus in the northern sky.
More HERE from Science @ NASA. They recommend you look after 2 a.m., when the waxing moon sets. In general, there are more shooting stars in the morning -- since that's the side of the Earth that faces forward as we orbit the Sun, and so it's less shielded.
Meteor showers are best if you regard them as something to be savored rather than awed by. Yes, you'll see one or two shooting stars a minute (forgive an earlier typo, when I said "per hour") -- but only if you're far from cities, have clear skies, and happen to be looking in the right direction.
On the other hand, perhaps you'll get lucky and see several. And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that Chicken Little was half right. The sky will indeed be falling...harmlessly.
August 11, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (5)
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The correct rate around the peak is about 1 Perseid per minute, not 1 or 2 per hour. A rate this good requires dark rural skies free of obstructions and clouds.
Posted by: R Campbell | Aug 11, 2008 5:05:07 PM
The sky around me is unobstructed,I will have to check but I think -no clouds.Might have to take a nap and set my alarm.
Posted by: Symphony of Destruction | Aug 11, 2008 5:28:17 PM
I had the privilige of seeing a few on August 1st. I was at camp on Sauratown Mountain, near Pilot Mountain. I live near Raleigh, though, and I'm not getting up early. So I have light polution, trees, and laziness as obstacles to get around tonight. :)
Posted by: Andrew in NC | Aug 11, 2008 7:47:26 PM
I would love to see a meteor shower from the mountians,we are on the coast of NC.Beautiful clear sky out my back door.I wonder how much video my wimpy camera would give me?
Posted by: Symphony of Destruction | Aug 11, 2008 11:02:42 PM
I missed it. I used to be hardcore and go out on school nights, waking up at all hours of the night to go outside and look at things. Wouldn't be out of the ordinary for me to be out later than midnight with my telescope. Then having to wake up at about 5am just to get to school. Can't believe I forgot about this one. I usually remember when they are.
Posted by: Lawrence | Aug 12, 2008 8:36:02 AM
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