An exciting countdown has begun for the 2023 Perseid meteor shower, which happens once a year and is popularly known as the “shooting star”. One of the most intense and fascinating natural light shows observed in the northern hemisphere, the Perseid shower is an event that sky enthusiasts look forward to.
In this celestial feast, more than 100 meteors can be observed per hour due to the gravitational effect of the giant planet Jupiter. With only a few days left to the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, sky enthusiasts started their research on history. The Perseid meteor shower, also called the Perseids, goes through an active period from mid-July to late August each year.
Now, let’s take a closer look at what the Perseid meteor shower is, when it will happen, and whether it can be seen from Turkey.
When Is the Perseid Meteor Shower? Will it be seen from Turkey?
Standing out among the meteor showers, many of which occur several times a year, and considered one of the most impressive, the Perseid meteor shower is observed every year in August. This enchanting event lights up the sky, reaching its zenith especially on August 12 and 13. This cosmic show, which attracts great attention around the world, allows us to watch the meteorite feast in the night sky.
The Perseid meteor shower, which can be seen in the northern hemisphere, is expressed by scientists as it can be observed with the naked eye, including Turkey. To observe this fascinating event, it will be enough to choose a region away from artificial lights between 00.00 and 04.00 Turkish time and turn our eyes to the dome of the sky.
What is the Perseid Meteor Shower?
According to the 2023 Celestial Events Yearbook of TÜBİTAK National Observatory (TUG), meteor showers, which are formed from the remains of comets dating back thousands of years, adorn the world’s sky in 8 different periods every year. These magical moments are Quadrantid (Quarter), Lyrid (Instrument), Eta Aquarid (Eta Aquarius), Delta Aquarid (Delta Aquarius), Perseid (Hero-Perce), Orionid (Hunter), Leonid (Leo) and Geminid (Gemini) meteorites with the rains.
The most striking of these fascinating celestial events is the Perseid meteor shower. This magical show, which will start on July 14 and continue until September 1, will experience its most intense moments on the night of August 12-13.
The Perseid meteor shower is made up of particles left over from Comet Swift-Tuttle, discovered in 1862. For this reason, the meteor shower Perseid gets its name from its observations in the Perseus Constellation region. The fact that the stones turn into ashes by leaving a trace in the atmosphere is known by the people as “shooting stars”.
Best Time for Observation
According to the annual report of TUG, it is stated that between 00.00 and 04.00 on the night of 12-13 August, 60 to 100 light traces can be observed per hour. In addition, “On these dates, the rise of the Moon at approximately 03.00 Turkish time and the fact that only 10 percent of it is illuminated offers a fascinating observation experience. Perseids can leave larger traces of light, also known as fireballs, with luminosity reaching magnitude minus 3.
In this magical sky show, meteorites will enter the Earth’s atmosphere at approximately 59 kilometers per second. To observe the Perseids, between 00:00 and 04:00, in an area away from artificial lights, it will be enough to focus our eyes on the sky and focus on the extraordinary scene.” additional information is provided.
