Perseids 2023: how to see the August meteor shower or tears of San Lorenzo today (the BEST in years)

Every year, on the night of August 11 or 12, when the night has closed, the Perseids can be observed, The most intense meteor shower of the yearand that due to its proximity to the day of San Lorenzo in the saints, which is celebrated on August 10, They are also known as Tears of San Lorenzo.

This year 2023 it is expected that the peak of this august meteor shower take place night of August 12. The light conditions to enjoy this rain this year are excellent according to reports from the National Astronomical Observatory of Spain. Since 2018 we did not have a Perseid whose peak occurred near the new Moon and this will not happen again until 2026. In addition, the Moon will not appear over the horizon until well into the early morning.

What are the Perseids

The Perseid Meteor Shower It is actually a meteor shower and occurs when the Earth passes close to the comet Swift-Tuttle.which last passed close to Earth in 1992. On that night, our planet encounters tiny dust particles at a speed of more than 200,000 kilometers per hour.

Are particles, subjected to searing temperatures of around 5,000 degrees, undergo a combustion when passing through the atmosphere, at an altitude of approximately 100 kilometers. The result of such a magnificent event translates into dazzling flashes of light that adorn the night sky.

Shooting stars are seen every time a piece of the comet’s tail, about the size of a grain of sand to a pea, enters the atmosphere and catches fire. They are not, therefore, stars, but meteors.

From time to time, one of those fragments of the meteor showers shine with particular force: they are what is known by the eloquent name of “balls of fire”. The Perseids are, along with the Lyrids, one of the rains that offers us more “balls of fire”, although it cannot be predicted if we will see them this year or not.

It’s fascinating that something so small, even on a human scale be able to cause so much wonder in human beings, we take advantage of the magic of the moment to make a wish in secret.

When are the Perseids in 2023

The Perseids take place every yearbetween July 16 and August 24, reaching maximum intensity on the night of August 12-13 and the days immediately before or after.

If you look at the lunar calendar for August, you will see that This year the peak of the Perseids will occur with the moon in the waning phase, very close to the new moon phase. The darkness of the sky at the time of the lunar cycle – the Moon will be only approximately 10% illuminated on the night of August 12 and will not rise above the horizon until 04:00 in the morning – increases the chances of sighting them. It is also necessary, of course, that there are no clouds.

Let’s cross our fingers and, if all goes well, you can see up to 150 shooting stars per hour, especially before dawn. This figure is a mathematical fact, because in reality no one can see them all, but one good night you can really see up to 40 or 50.

This year the night with the most stars will be the one from August 12 to 13, but If there are clouds that night in your area, you can try any day until August 24. Of course, the frequency will be much lower.

How to see the Perseids

To see this August meteor shower the best thing is to look towards the constellation of Perseus (hence its name), which is located in a northerly direction. There is the radiant of the meteor shower, that is, the point from which it seems to originate.

There are many mobile phone apps that make locating easier, such as the free and magnificent Stellarium, with which you can also learn the location of all the constellations and the names and characteristics of the stars that compose them.

In Time and Date you can also see a map of the firmament with the radiant of the Perseids as seen from your location to locate this point.

But, when the time comes, don’t get distracted by your mobile, look at the sky so you don’t miss a shooting star! Do not miss the show and the experience of being part of this wonderful Universe. Remember, as Carl Sagan said, “we are stardust”.

And also write down another astronomical event in your diary: next August 31 we will enjoy a blue supermoon, the third supermoon of the year and also the one that will occur with the Moon closest to Earth, which will make it the most spectacular supermoon of all.

The best places to see the meteor shower

Light pollution makes it difficult to observe the celestial dome. For this reason, to observe meteor showers such as the Perseids or Lágrimas de San Lorenzo, it is recommended to look for a place far from urban centers.

The Starlight Foundation has created a certification system for places that have excellent sky quality. “They are scenarios that incorporate the observation of the firmament as part of their natural, landscape, cultural or scientific heritage and in turn promote ‘Star Tourism’ or astrotourism”, they explain from the Foundation.

The Starlight Reserves are protected natural spaces “where a commitment is established to defend the quality of the night sky and access to starlight,” the Foundation clarifies. In Spain, We can find these wonderful spaces in La Palma, the Sierra del Montsec, Cumbres de Tenerife and thirteen other places. The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, in La Palma, one of the best in the world, allows guided tours. The Montsec Astronomical Park and other centers also have telescopes for stargazing.

It is worth mentioning that National Geographic has made a compilation of the 14 best observation points in Spain to enjoy the sky in August, both of the two supermoons this year and of the Perseid rain, based on the certifications of the Starlight Foundation.

Light pollution (inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light), in addition to hindering the visibility of the celestial dome, can be detrimental to life and the climate. Spain, with 9 million public light points, is the country that spends the most energy in Europe in this sense and that pollutes the most with its light.

How light pollution harms: 99% of people cannot experience a natural night in Europe. This disrupts human circadian rhythms and mammalian reproduction, and affects migratory birds, nocturnal animals and insects. To this must be added energy waste and its impact on climate change. What can you do. Use artificial lighting only when and where necessary, shield outdoor lights from radiating into the sky, and keep blinds drawn. In gardens and terraces, do not use decorative lights and install motion detectors if you are concerned about security.