Get ready now, because one of the most popular meteor showers of the year is here the Perseids! This shower is one of the most watched meteor showers of all, mostly due the number of meteors it produces each year plus the fact it provides summertime observing for observers in the northern hemisphere.

Here's the data on this shower:

Active: July 17 to August 24
Peak of Activity: August 12
ZHR: around 100
Radiant: 03 04 (RA)  +58 (DEC)

The moon will set around 1:30 a.m. which will allow several hours of observing. Here are some websites that contain additional information on the Perseids:

IMO:    http://www.imo.net/calendar/2008#per

NASA:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/22jul_perseiddawn.htm?list974465

Meteor Shower Activity Predictions (Mikhail Maslov):
http://feraj.narod.ru/Radiants/Predictions/predicteng.html


If you are new to meteor watching, you might consider holding a simple meteor count in which you record only the time of each meteor and whether or not you believe it was a Perseid or non-Perseid. After your observing sessions, send me the results and I will publish them on our website. If you would like to take a more serious stab at collecting meteor date, why not consider submitting a full report to both NAMN and the International Meteor Organization. Instructions, forms, charts and an observing handbook are all available from me electronically. The IMO also has an electronic report form, plus instructions, on their website.

The web address is:

http://www.imo.net/visual/report

While Perseid reports are coming in, the IMO also publishes a Perseid site with nearly live data posted. To reach that website, please visit:

http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2008/

I look forward to reading about everyone's Perseid observations, and wish all clear skies!


--
Mark Davis, South Carolina, USA
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North American Meteor Network
http://www.namnmeteors.org