THE Perseids meteor shower reaches its peak overnight on Wednesday (August 12) and into Thursday (August 13) and Salisbury is blessed with several nearby locations, perfect for stargazing.
The prolific meteor shower is usually visible from mid-July to late-August but is usually most abundant from August 9-14. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, tomorrow night’s peak has a predicted rate of 150 meteors per hour, including bright “fireballs”.
Famous for being one of the most active, the Perseids meteor shower is caused by debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet burning up as it meets Earth’s atmosphere. It gets its name due to it appearing in the general direction of the constellation Perseus.
Perseids meteor shower Salisbury: How to watch
This year, Perseids will peak just hours after the partial solar eclipse, offering stargazers the chance of an astronomical double-whammy.
To watch the meteor shower at its most spectacular, you’ll need to find a dark, outdoor spot with an unobstructed view of the sky. A location away from the city with minimal light pollution is optimal.
This year, the peak coincides with a new moon, meaning the dark skies will create the perfect viewing conditions. The best time to view is between midnight and 5.30am, when the skies are darkest and the radiant constellation of Perseus is high.
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You do not need binoculars or a telescope, which narrow your view, as meteors streak across the entire sky. Avoid neck strain by lying flat on your back on a blanket or reclining chair.
Allow 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark and protect your night vision by putting away phones and using red light if you do need to use a torch to move around.
Expect to see one or two shooting stars every minute and keep your eyes peeled for fireballs which will appear as incredibly bright, large explosions of light that leave long-lasting trails.
Stargazing in Salisbury
Stargazers in Salisbury are spoilt for choice when it comes to locations for viewing the night’s sky in and around the city. The Go Stargazing website has a list of places in Wiltshire – including both official Dark Sky Discovery Sites and their own recommendations – which are perfect for spotting Perseids ‘shooting stars’.
Below are the three closest stargazing locations to Salisbury where you can experience the meteor shower at its finest.
Martin Down National Nature Reserve
Near East Woodyates, Salisbury
The Martin Down National Nature Reserve is a Dark Sky Discovery Site – an officially recognised place where anyone can stargaze.
Dinton Park National Trust
St Marys Road, Dinton
Dinton Park is another Dark Sky Discovery Site, officially recognised and somewhere anyone can enjoy stargazing.
Woodhenge
Countess Road, Salisbury
Woodhenge is a Go Stargazing Site, identified by the Go Stargazing team as a good location for stargazing based on local light pollution levels and distance from nearby towns and cities – it also offers a safe place to park.
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