Find out how and when is the best time to see it

Posted on 8/12/2023 07:49 PM

People from Brasilia have the privilege of seeing with the naked eye the Perseid meteor shower, which will have its peak visibility in Brazil and Brasilia in the early hours of Saturday (8/12) to Sunday (8/13). For those who cannot attend this weekend, the astronomical phenomenon can be seen at a lower intensity until the 24th of this month.

According to University of Brasilia (UnB) Professor of Physics and Astronomy Paulo Eduardo de Brito, this meteor shower is associated with the path of comet Swift-Tuttle, which last appeared 32 years ago, in 1991. “The Earth will pass close to the orbit of this comet,” Brito explains. , and it attracts part of the molecules left behind.”

For those who want to witness the phenomenon, the professor says that the best time to be in Brasilia will be after 4 am. Paolo describes that to follow the meteor shower it is necessary to look to the northeast, below Jupiter, the brightest star in the sky at the moment, and to the left of Tres Marías, in the constellation of Orion.

For Brito, the ideal viewing location is one that is free from light pollution and away from the city lights. “It’s raining, if you’re in a suitable place, you can see up to 20 stars emerging from the constellation Perseus,” says the astronomy professor. He points out that the shooting star is not actually a star. “It is worth noting that they are meteorites entering the Earth’s atmosphere. In popular culture, you can make several requests,” he jokes.

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