The 2015 Perseid meteor shower will peak on August 11, 12 and 13. A new
moon on August 14, 2015 will create perfect conditions for watching the
meteor shower
The best time to view the Perseids, or most other meteor showers is when the sky is the darkest. Most astronomers suggest that depending on the Moon’s phase, the best time to view meteor showers is right before dawn.
While the skies light up several time a year by other meteor showers, the Perseids are widely sought after by astronomers and stargazers. This is because at its peak, one can see 60 to a 100 meteors in an hour from a dark place.
While you can easily see a shooting star with the naked eye just looking straight up, the table below shows the exact direction of the Perseids from your location.
Direction to see the Perseids in the sky
When Can I See the Perseids?
The Perseid meteor shower, one of the brighter meteor showers of the year, occur every year between July 17 and August 24. The shower tends to peak around August 9-13.The best time to view the Perseids, or most other meteor showers is when the sky is the darkest. Most astronomers suggest that depending on the Moon’s phase, the best time to view meteor showers is right before dawn.
Comet Swift-Tuttle
Made of tiny space debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus. This is because the direction, or radiant, from which the shower seems to come in the sky lies in the same direction as the constellation Perseus, which can be found in the north-eastern part of the sky.While the skies light up several time a year by other meteor showers, the Perseids are widely sought after by astronomers and stargazers. This is because at its peak, one can see 60 to a 100 meteors in an hour from a dark place.
Where Can I See the Perseids?
The Perseids can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere. Look between the radiant, which will be in the north-east part of the sky and the zenith (the point in sky directly above you).While you can easily see a shooting star with the naked eye just looking straight up, the table below shows the exact direction of the Perseids from your location.
Location in the sky tonight
Slight chance to see Perseids, table below is updated daily and shows position for coming night.| Perseids meteor shower for Chennai (Night between 13 Aug and 14 Aug) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Azimuth/Direction | Altitude |
| Thu 22:30 | 30° | 1.7° |
| Thu 23:30 | 32° | 9.1° |
| Fri 00:30 | 33° | 17.0° |
| Fri 01:30 | 32° | 24.9° |
| Fri 02:30 | 28° | 32.2° |
| Fri 03:30 | 22° | 38.4° |
| Fri 04:30 | 13° | 42.9° |
| Fri 05:30 | 3° | 45.0° |
Direction to see the Perseids in the sky
- Azimuth is the direction, based on true north, a compass might show a slightly different value.
- Altitude is height in degrees over horizon.
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