How to See the Perseid Meteor Shower in the Bay Area
Top Places in the Bay Area to See the Perseid Meteor Shower
Where to Watch the Leonid Meteor Shower in the Bay Area
Your Guide to Viewing the Perseids and Delta Aquariids Meteor Showers
Meteors, Supermoons, Eclipse: Mark Your Calendars for These 2023 Astronomical Delights
The Lyrids Meteor Shower Adds Its Own Fiery Blossoms to April Skies
The Geminids Meteor Shower Will Peak Early Wednesday Morning
How to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower Now
Here's How to See the Lyrids Meteor Shower Plus a Dramatic Lineup of Planets This Month
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"content": "\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/tag/perseids\">Perseids\u003c/a>, one of the most dazzling and reliable meteor showers of the year, are streaking across the Bay Area night sky, and this summer, Venus and Jupiter will join the cosmic show in a rare pre-dawn pairing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The meteor shower is active from now until the end of August, and will be at its brightest, producing up to 100 meteors per hour, from Aug. 11 until Aug. 13.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the shower peaks between August 11 and 13, a bright, nearly full moon will make meteors more challenging to spot; technically, it will be a waning gibbous moon, a lunar phase that follows a full moon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The darkest skies will arrive between when the sun sets around 8:15 p.m. and the moon rises a couple of hours later, but meteor activity is relatively low during that window, according to Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer and professor at the University of San Francisco’s Fromm Institute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your best bet? Aim for the pre-dawn hours after moonset, when the sky begins to darken again, especially between midnight and 5:00 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1997984\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1997984\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Perseid meteor shower on Aug. 12, 2013. The event occurs every year in August when the Earth passes through the debris and dust of the Swift-Tuttle comet. \u003ccite>(Ye Aung Thu/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It will be a tough year for stargazers,” Fraknoi said. “But even with a bright moon, you might catch a few brilliant meteors, especially after midnight, when activity picks up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the luminous full moon will limit viewing of the meteors during their peak, Fraknoi said it’s still worth trying to observe them. “It’s still possible to see an occasional meteor during the maximum time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a cosmic bonus, Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets in the sky, will appear close together just before dawn on Aug. 12. Look to the eastern sky between 5 and 6 a.m. to catch the planets rise side by side near the horizon, which is called a conjunction.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to watch the Perseid meteor shower in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For meteor spotting, you want to choose a dark location away from city lights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are a few popular dark locations for watching meteor showers in the Bay Area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Henry Coe State Park, South Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tilden Park, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunol Regional Wilderness, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mount Diablo, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Skyline Boulevard, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Montara Beach, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pescadero, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Point Reyes National Seashore, North Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bodega Bay, North Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In the North Bay, you can find miles of darkened skies from the rural coast eastward. But note that fog in coastal areas might disrupt your views of the night sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State parks, national forests, and rural areas are also ideal for night sky watching. And if you’re looking to go beyond the Bay Area, popular spots in California include Pinnacles National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, and the Sierra Nevada mountains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11953853/how-to-find-a-camping-spot-in-california-when-they-always-seem-to-be-fully-booked#walkincampsites\">Read our tips for finding a last-minute camping reservation near the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to look in the sky to see the Perseid meteor shower\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re heading out to see the meteor shower, be prepared to be outdoors for at least a few hours. Bring a reclining chair or a blanket to lie on for comfort.[aside postID=science_1997579 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/GettyImages-1267735347-2000x1125.jpg']Dress warmly as temperatures can drop at night, even in summer. Make sure to check the weather forecast — clear skies are essential for optimal viewing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’re situated, allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for about 20–30 minutes and avoid looking at your phone or any other bright lights, as this can reduce night vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Look toward the northeast horizon, where the constellation Perseus will be rising, and enjoy the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is a meteor shower?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by a comet or, in some cases, an asteroid. As Earth moves through the debris, these particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds and burn up, creating striking streaks of light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus, the point from which the meteors appear to radiate, and are fragments of the comet Swift-Tuttle. This comet last passed near Earth in 1992 and won’t return until 2126.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The darkest skies will arrive between when the sun sets around 8:15 p.m. and the moon rises a couple of hours later, but meteor activity is relatively low during that window, according to Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer and professor at the University of San Francisco’s Fromm Institute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your best bet? Aim for the pre-dawn hours after moonset, when the sky begins to darken again, especially between midnight and 5:00 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1997984\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1997984\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/Perseids2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Perseid meteor shower on Aug. 12, 2013. The event occurs every year in August when the Earth passes through the debris and dust of the Swift-Tuttle comet. \u003ccite>(Ye Aung Thu/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It will be a tough year for stargazers,” Fraknoi said. “But even with a bright moon, you might catch a few brilliant meteors, especially after midnight, when activity picks up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the luminous full moon will limit viewing of the meteors during their peak, Fraknoi said it’s still worth trying to observe them. “It’s still possible to see an occasional meteor during the maximum time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a cosmic bonus, Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets in the sky, will appear close together just before dawn on Aug. 12. Look to the eastern sky between 5 and 6 a.m. to catch the planets rise side by side near the horizon, which is called a conjunction.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to watch the Perseid meteor shower in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For meteor spotting, you want to choose a dark location away from city lights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are a few popular dark locations for watching meteor showers in the Bay Area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Henry Coe State Park, South Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tilden Park, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunol Regional Wilderness, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mount Diablo, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Skyline Boulevard, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Montara Beach, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pescadero, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Point Reyes National Seashore, North Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bodega Bay, North Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In the North Bay, you can find miles of darkened skies from the rural coast eastward. But note that fog in coastal areas might disrupt your views of the night sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State parks, national forests, and rural areas are also ideal for night sky watching. And if you’re looking to go beyond the Bay Area, popular spots in California include Pinnacles National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, and the Sierra Nevada mountains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11953853/how-to-find-a-camping-spot-in-california-when-they-always-seem-to-be-fully-booked#walkincampsites\">Read our tips for finding a last-minute camping reservation near the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to look in the sky to see the Perseid meteor shower\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re heading out to see the meteor shower, be prepared to be outdoors for at least a few hours. Bring a reclining chair or a blanket to lie on for comfort.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Dress warmly as temperatures can drop at night, even in summer. Make sure to check the weather forecast — clear skies are essential for optimal viewing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’re situated, allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for about 20–30 minutes and avoid looking at your phone or any other bright lights, as this can reduce night vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Look toward the northeast horizon, where the constellation Perseus will be rising, and enjoy the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is a meteor shower?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by a comet or, in some cases, an asteroid. As Earth moves through the debris, these particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds and burn up, creating striking streaks of light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus, the point from which the meteors appear to radiate, and are fragments of the comet Swift-Tuttle. This comet last passed near Earth in 1992 and won’t return until 2126.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/perseids/in-depth/\">Perseid meteor shower\u003c/a> is the most anticipated light show of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while the Perseids have already been illuminating our dark skies as of late July, they’re expected to peak starting this weekend — on Sunday, Aug. 11, Monday, Aug. 12 and Tuesday, Aug. 13.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Producing up to 100 meteors per hour, the Perseids form one of the most reliable annual meteor showers to watch out for. And under optimal weather conditions — especially in the pre-dawn hours when the sky is darkest — observers will be able to enjoy a spectacular view of these “shooting stars” if they know where to look.[aside postID='news_11990187,news_11988380,news_11987126,news_11984496' label='More Outdoor Guides From KQED']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for the best places to see the Perseid meteor shower in the Bay Area this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>When to see the Perseid meteor shower in the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The best time to view the Perseids is during the peak nights, which in 2024 are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sunday, Aug. 11\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, Aug. 12\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tuesday, Aug. 13\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>As for timing, meteors are most visible between midnight, after the moon sets, and dawn.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where to watch the Perseid meteor shower in the Bay Area \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For meteor spotting, you want to choose a dark location away from city lights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are a few popular dark locations for watching meteor showers in the Bay Area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Henry Coe State Park, South Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tilden Park, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunol Regional Wilderness, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mount Diablo, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Skyline Boulevard, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Montara Beach, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pescadero, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Point Reyes National Seashore, North Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bodega Bay, North Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In the North Bay, you can find miles of darkened rural skies from the coast eastward. But note that fog in coastal areas might disrupt your views of the dark night sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State parks, national forests, and rural areas are also ideal for night sky watching. And if you’re looking to go beyond the Bay Area, popular spots in California include Pinnacles National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11953853/how-to-find-a-camping-spot-in-california-when-they-always-seem-to-be-fully-booked#walkincampsites\">Read our tips for finding a last-minute camping reservation near the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where to look in the sky to see the Perseid meteor shower\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re heading out to see the meteor shower, be prepared to be outdoors for at least a few hours. Bring a reclining chair or a blanket to lie on for comfort. Dress warmly as temperatures can drop at night, even in summer. Make sure to check the weather forecast — clear skies are essential for optimal viewing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’re situated, allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for about 20–30 minutes and avoid looking at your phone or any other bright lights, as this can reduce night vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Look towards the northeast horizon, where the constellation Perseus will be rising, and enjoy the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What is a meteor shower? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/\">meteor shower\u003c/a> occurs when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by a \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=name+asc&search=&condition_1=102%3Aparent_id&condition_2=comet%3Abody_type%3Ailike\">comet\u003c/a> or, in some cases, an asteroid. As Earth moves through the debris, these particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds and burn up, creating striking streaks of light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Perseids are named after the constellation \u003ca href=\"https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/perseus-constellation/\">Perseus\u003c/a>, the point from which the meteors appear to radiate, and are fragments of the comet \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/109p-swift-tuttle/in-depth/\">Swift-Tuttle\u003c/a>. This comet last passed near Earth in 1992 and won’t return until 2126.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A version of this story was originally published on July 27.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/perseids/in-depth/\">Perseid meteor shower\u003c/a> is the most anticipated light show of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while the Perseids have already been illuminating our dark skies as of late July, they’re expected to peak starting this weekend — on Sunday, Aug. 11, Monday, Aug. 12 and Tuesday, Aug. 13.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Producing up to 100 meteors per hour, the Perseids form one of the most reliable annual meteor showers to watch out for. And under optimal weather conditions — especially in the pre-dawn hours when the sky is darkest — observers will be able to enjoy a spectacular view of these “shooting stars” if they know where to look.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for the best places to see the Perseid meteor shower in the Bay Area this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>When to see the Perseid meteor shower in the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The best time to view the Perseids is during the peak nights, which in 2024 are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sunday, Aug. 11\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, Aug. 12\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tuesday, Aug. 13\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>As for timing, meteors are most visible between midnight, after the moon sets, and dawn.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where to watch the Perseid meteor shower in the Bay Area \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For meteor spotting, you want to choose a dark location away from city lights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are a few popular dark locations for watching meteor showers in the Bay Area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Henry Coe State Park, South Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tilden Park, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunol Regional Wilderness, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mount Diablo, East Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Skyline Boulevard, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Montara Beach, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pescadero, Peninsula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Point Reyes National Seashore, North Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bodega Bay, North Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In the North Bay, you can find miles of darkened rural skies from the coast eastward. But note that fog in coastal areas might disrupt your views of the dark night sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State parks, national forests, and rural areas are also ideal for night sky watching. And if you’re looking to go beyond the Bay Area, popular spots in California include Pinnacles National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11953853/how-to-find-a-camping-spot-in-california-when-they-always-seem-to-be-fully-booked#walkincampsites\">Read our tips for finding a last-minute camping reservation near the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where to look in the sky to see the Perseid meteor shower\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re heading out to see the meteor shower, be prepared to be outdoors for at least a few hours. Bring a reclining chair or a blanket to lie on for comfort. Dress warmly as temperatures can drop at night, even in summer. Make sure to check the weather forecast — clear skies are essential for optimal viewing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’re situated, allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for about 20–30 minutes and avoid looking at your phone or any other bright lights, as this can reduce night vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Look towards the northeast horizon, where the constellation Perseus will be rising, and enjoy the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What is a meteor shower? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/\">meteor shower\u003c/a> occurs when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by a \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=name+asc&search=&condition_1=102%3Aparent_id&condition_2=comet%3Abody_type%3Ailike\">comet\u003c/a> or, in some cases, an asteroid. As Earth moves through the debris, these particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds and burn up, creating striking streaks of light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Perseids are named after the constellation \u003ca href=\"https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/perseus-constellation/\">Perseus\u003c/a>, the point from which the meteors appear to radiate, and are fragments of the comet \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/109p-swift-tuttle/in-depth/\">Swift-Tuttle\u003c/a>. This comet last passed near Earth in 1992 and won’t return until 2126.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A version of this story was originally published on July 27.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Where to Watch the Leonid Meteor Shower in the Bay Area",
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"content": "\u003cp>The annual \u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/leonids/\">Leonids meteor shower\u003c/a> will reach peak activity on the morning of Nov. 18 this year, when it is expected to produce 10-15 meteors per hour under good weather conditions and dark skies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to see them, target your viewing hours anytime from midnight to dawn on Saturday morning — though meteor activity may increase as the morning hours grow later.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985364\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1985364 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2.jpg\" alt=\"Blue and yellow streaks across the star-filled night sky. \" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2-160x90.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Timed exposure capturing several luminous trails of the Leonids meteor shower \u003ccite>(Eastbay Astronomical Society/Carter Roberts)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>\u003cb>How to watch, what to look for\u003c/b>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The key to a good meteor viewing experience is timing and location. Timing-wise, the best hours are after midnight, in the early morning, between 2–4 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for location, your two watchwords should be safe and dark, as far from sources of urban light pollution as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A clear view of the eastern sky, without obstructions like trees, hills or buildings, is also important. The sky is the canvas on which the meteor shower paints its luminous streaks, so like any art gallery experience, there should be nothing blocking your line of sight to this work of art.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Leonids’ “radiant” point — the spot in the sky the meteors appear to streak from — is in the\u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/constellations/leo-heres-your-constellation/\"> constellation Leo\u003c/a>, the Lion, recognizable by the backward question mark formed by some of its stars. The bright star Regulus punctuates the dot of the question mark.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985363\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1101px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1985363 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18.jpg\" alt=\"Constelations of ranging shapes and sizes. \" width=\"1101\" height=\"802\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18.jpg 1101w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18-800x583.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18-1020x743.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18-160x117.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18-768x559.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1101px) 100vw, 1101px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An eastward view of the sky at 3 a.m. on Nov. 18, centered on the constellation Leo, the radiant point of the Leonids meteor shower. \u003ccite>(Ben Burress/Made using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Leo rises on the eastern horizon around midnight and spends the rest of the morning climbing higher into the sky. By dawn, it is high above the southeastern horizon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Get comfortable. Bring a chair or a blanket to roll out on the ground. Meteor hunting takes patience, and you’ll have the best experience if you spend at least an hour, preferably more, under the stars. Gaze eastward, taking in as much of the sky as you can. Though meteors will appear to streak from Leo, they can appear anywhere in the sky anytime.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cb>Dark skies\u003c/b>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Though we live in a sprawling metropolitan area and the skies are inundated by urban light pollution, there are \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">plenty of spots\u003c/a> fringing the Bay Area where the sky is partially shielded and relatively darker — or, at least, less bright — conditions can be found. In the South Bay, Henry Coe State Park is a good location. There are some roadside opportunities on the peninsula east of Skyline Blvd. In the East Bay, the Sunol area, Mount Diablo, the East Bay hills and Tilden Park are places to consider. And northward toward Sonoma and Napa counties provide plenty of rural back roads that offer dark promise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just check the weather to gauge how clouds or fog might impact viewing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The good news is that the waxing crescent moon sets early, leaving meteor-watching hours unimpacted by moonlight.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cb>What is a meteor shower?\u003c/b>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/meteor.html\">meteor\u003c/a>, or “shooting star,” is a tiny speck of rock or metal that hits Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and burns up in a fiery flash. If you’ve watched a video of a spacecraft reentering Earth’s atmosphere on its way home and falling in a bright streaking shroud, then you’ve seen the phenomenon that produces a meteor. In the case of the spacecraft, its speed is a mere few thousand miles per hour, while a typical meteor hits the atmosphere, moving tens of miles per second, making it fall fast and furious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985358\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 483px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1985358 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/1036624main_leonid-1999-nasa.jpg\" alt=\"Streaking white lines across a dark night sky. \" width=\"483\" height=\"283\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/1036624main_leonid-1999-nasa.jpg 483w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/1036624main_leonid-1999-nasa-160x94.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leonids meteor “storm” during increased activity in 1999 \u003ccite>(NASA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/\">meteor shower\u003c/a> happens when the Earth moves through a trail of dust left behind by a comet sometime in the past. A comet is like a big, dirty snowball, and when it gets close to the sun, some of its ice is heated and evaporates, carrying into space dust that scatters in the comet’s trail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Earth itself moves around the sun at a speed of 18 miles per second, and when combined with the orbital velocity of the dust stream, meteor entry speeds can reach 20 or 30 miles per second. The result here on the ground is a meteor shower, with individual meteors appearing to fall from the direction the Earth is moving through space — the shower’s radiant point. This is why we typically only see a meteor shower in the morning hours when our location is on the side of the Earth moving forward into the dust stream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meteors you see burn up high in the atmosphere, at altitudes of 40 to 50 miles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cometary Origin\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The comet that left behind the stream of dust that is the source of Leonids meteors is called 55\u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/55p-tempel-tuttle/\">/Temple-Tuttle\u003c/a>. Temple-Tuttle orbits the sun once every 33 years and was last seen in our part of the solar system back in 1998. The comet will return in 2031, adding more dust to its orbital trail and potentially boosting future Leonids activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985359\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 683px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1985359\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/anatomy-of-a-comet.en_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"683\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/anatomy-of-a-comet.en_.jpg 683w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/anatomy-of-a-comet.en_-160x113.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anatomy of a comet. The dust trail left behind by a comet as it passes near the sun is the source of meteor showers. When the Earth moves through the dust tail, bits of dust are incinerated by friction in the atmosphere.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, the Leonids have been known to produce meteor storms following the close passage of Temple-Tuttle. In 1966, Leonids fell at a breathtaking rate of thousands of meteors per minute for some observers. Following its 1998 passage, Leonids’ activity increased impressively over the next two or three years — though nothing like the storm of 1966.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "The annual Leonids meteor shower takes place in the early morning of Saturday, Nov. 18, and is expected to produce 10-15 meteors per hour. ",
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"title": "See the Leonid Meteor Shower in the Bay Area | KQED",
"description": "Catch the Leonid meteor shower from top Bay Area spots. Find out when and where to look for the best views of this dazzling sky show.",
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"headline": "Where to Watch the Leonid Meteor Shower in the Bay Area",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The annual \u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/leonids/\">Leonids meteor shower\u003c/a> will reach peak activity on the morning of Nov. 18 this year, when it is expected to produce 10-15 meteors per hour under good weather conditions and dark skies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to see them, target your viewing hours anytime from midnight to dawn on Saturday morning — though meteor activity may increase as the morning hours grow later.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985364\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1985364 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2.jpg\" alt=\"Blue and yellow streaks across the star-filled night sky. \" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2-160x90.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Timed exposure capturing several luminous trails of the Leonids meteor shower \u003ccite>(Eastbay Astronomical Society/Carter Roberts)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>\u003cb>How to watch, what to look for\u003c/b>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The key to a good meteor viewing experience is timing and location. Timing-wise, the best hours are after midnight, in the early morning, between 2–4 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for location, your two watchwords should be safe and dark, as far from sources of urban light pollution as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A clear view of the eastern sky, without obstructions like trees, hills or buildings, is also important. The sky is the canvas on which the meteor shower paints its luminous streaks, so like any art gallery experience, there should be nothing blocking your line of sight to this work of art.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Leonids’ “radiant” point — the spot in the sky the meteors appear to streak from — is in the\u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/constellations/leo-heres-your-constellation/\"> constellation Leo\u003c/a>, the Lion, recognizable by the backward question mark formed by some of its stars. The bright star Regulus punctuates the dot of the question mark.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985363\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1101px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1985363 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18.jpg\" alt=\"Constelations of ranging shapes and sizes. \" width=\"1101\" height=\"802\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18.jpg 1101w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18-800x583.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18-1020x743.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18-160x117.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/stellarium-leo-nov18-768x559.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1101px) 100vw, 1101px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An eastward view of the sky at 3 a.m. on Nov. 18, centered on the constellation Leo, the radiant point of the Leonids meteor shower. \u003ccite>(Ben Burress/Made using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Leo rises on the eastern horizon around midnight and spends the rest of the morning climbing higher into the sky. By dawn, it is high above the southeastern horizon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Get comfortable. Bring a chair or a blanket to roll out on the ground. Meteor hunting takes patience, and you’ll have the best experience if you spend at least an hour, preferably more, under the stars. Gaze eastward, taking in as much of the sky as you can. Though meteors will appear to streak from Leo, they can appear anywhere in the sky anytime.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cb>Dark skies\u003c/b>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Though we live in a sprawling metropolitan area and the skies are inundated by urban light pollution, there are \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">plenty of spots\u003c/a> fringing the Bay Area where the sky is partially shielded and relatively darker — or, at least, less bright — conditions can be found. In the South Bay, Henry Coe State Park is a good location. There are some roadside opportunities on the peninsula east of Skyline Blvd. In the East Bay, the Sunol area, Mount Diablo, the East Bay hills and Tilden Park are places to consider. And northward toward Sonoma and Napa counties provide plenty of rural back roads that offer dark promise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just check the weather to gauge how clouds or fog might impact viewing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The good news is that the waxing crescent moon sets early, leaving meteor-watching hours unimpacted by moonlight.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cb>What is a meteor shower?\u003c/b>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/meteor.html\">meteor\u003c/a>, or “shooting star,” is a tiny speck of rock or metal that hits Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and burns up in a fiery flash. If you’ve watched a video of a spacecraft reentering Earth’s atmosphere on its way home and falling in a bright streaking shroud, then you’ve seen the phenomenon that produces a meteor. In the case of the spacecraft, its speed is a mere few thousand miles per hour, while a typical meteor hits the atmosphere, moving tens of miles per second, making it fall fast and furious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985358\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 483px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1985358 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/1036624main_leonid-1999-nasa.jpg\" alt=\"Streaking white lines across a dark night sky. \" width=\"483\" height=\"283\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/1036624main_leonid-1999-nasa.jpg 483w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/1036624main_leonid-1999-nasa-160x94.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leonids meteor “storm” during increased activity in 1999 \u003ccite>(NASA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/\">meteor shower\u003c/a> happens when the Earth moves through a trail of dust left behind by a comet sometime in the past. A comet is like a big, dirty snowball, and when it gets close to the sun, some of its ice is heated and evaporates, carrying into space dust that scatters in the comet’s trail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Earth itself moves around the sun at a speed of 18 miles per second, and when combined with the orbital velocity of the dust stream, meteor entry speeds can reach 20 or 30 miles per second. The result here on the ground is a meteor shower, with individual meteors appearing to fall from the direction the Earth is moving through space — the shower’s radiant point. This is why we typically only see a meteor shower in the morning hours when our location is on the side of the Earth moving forward into the dust stream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meteors you see burn up high in the atmosphere, at altitudes of 40 to 50 miles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cometary Origin\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The comet that left behind the stream of dust that is the source of Leonids meteors is called 55\u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/55p-tempel-tuttle/\">/Temple-Tuttle\u003c/a>. Temple-Tuttle orbits the sun once every 33 years and was last seen in our part of the solar system back in 1998. The comet will return in 2031, adding more dust to its orbital trail and potentially boosting future Leonids activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985359\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 683px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1985359\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/anatomy-of-a-comet.en_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"683\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/anatomy-of-a-comet.en_.jpg 683w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/11/anatomy-of-a-comet.en_-160x113.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anatomy of a comet. The dust trail left behind by a comet as it passes near the sun is the source of meteor showers. When the Earth moves through the dust tail, bits of dust are incinerated by friction in the atmosphere.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, the Leonids have been known to produce meteor storms following the close passage of Temple-Tuttle. In 1966, Leonids fell at a breathtaking rate of thousands of meteors per minute for some observers. Following its 1998 passage, Leonids’ activity increased impressively over the next two or three years — though nothing like the storm of 1966.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Your Guide to Viewing the Perseids and Delta Aquariids Meteor Showers",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update: The Perseids meteor shower will be at its peak this weekend, starting at 1 a.m. on Sunday, August 13. \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to \u003ca href=\"#perseidsmeteorshower\">how to spot these meteors, where to see the Perseids this weekend\u003c/a> and how to watch for Delta Aquariids too.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Are you ready for another meteor shower to delight your early morning sky watching? How about a two-for-one deal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the annual Perseids meteor shower grows closer to its peak of activity in mid-August, another, lesser-known shower, called the Delta Aquariids, is already underway, and will continue into late August.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means as you camp out in the early morning on August 13 to watch Perseids, you may see some Delta Aquariids as well!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fun is in figuring out which streaks belong to which shower.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where and when to see the Delta Aquariids\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/delta-aquariids/in-depth/\">Delta Aquariids\u003c/a> shower is active between July 18 and August 21, with peak activity around July 29–31. The shower can produce as many as 20 meteors per hour if viewing conditions are good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Delta Aquariids tend to be faint meteors, making them more difficult to spot except when the sky is very dark. This year, the moon approaches its full phase during the Delta Aquariids’ peak, but sets a few hours before dawn, offering an early morning window of moonless sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the morning of July 29, the moon sets just after 2 a.m., and on July 30 after 3 a.m., allowing for prime meteor-watching conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1983528\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1398px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1983528 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023.jpg\" alt=\"A night-sky constellation map.\" width=\"1398\" height=\"715\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023.jpg 1398w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023-800x409.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023-1020x522.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023-160x82.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023-768x393.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1398px) 100vw, 1398px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Map of the sky looking to the southeast, around 2 a.m., on Aug. 13, 2023. The radiant point for the Perseids meteor shower, the constellation Perseus, rises over the northeastern horizon, while that of the Delta Aquariids (Aquarius) rests high in the south. The planet Saturn punctuates the modest stars of Aquarius, offering a visual guide. \u003ccite>(Chabot Space & Science Center/Image created using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you choose to look for these meteors during the shower peak, pick a safe \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">dark-sky location\u003c/a> away from city lights and schedule your viewing to begin no earlier than 2 or 3 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You’ll have a good two or three hours of dark, moonless sky before twilight begins to glow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Look toward the south, taking in the view of the southern sky with your gaze centered about halfway between the horizon and the zenith point directly overhead to spot the constellation \u003ca href=\"https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/aquarius-constellation/\">Aquarius\u003c/a>. The Delta Aquariids shower is named for one of the constellation’s brighter stars, Delta Aquarii.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>None of the stars of Aquarius is outstandingly bright, but this year there’s a handy visual reference to guide your eye: The planet Saturn sits right in the middle of the constellation.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"perseidsmeteorshower\">\u003c/a>Where and when to see the Perseids\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you decide to skip viewing the Delta Aquariids during its peak, you still have a shot at seeing some cascading meteors during the more prominent \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/perseids/in-depth/\">Perseids \u003c/a>shower, which will peak on the morning of Sunday, August 13.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Watch for meteors anytime after 1 a.m. Perseids tend to be brighter than Delta Aquariids, and this shower reliably produces up to 60 meteors per hour in dark viewing conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The waning crescent moon doesn’t rise until 3:30 a.m., so once again, you will have two or three hours of dark meteor-viewing time — and the moon’s thin crescent won’t put too much light into the sky anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1983527\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1983527 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan.jpg\" alt=\"A meteor as seen in space from the International Space Station.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"852\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan.jpg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Perseid meteor captured by astronaut Ron Garan from the International Space Station. \u003ccite>(NASA/Ron Garan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At 1 a.m. on August 13, the constellation \u003ca href=\"https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/perseus-constellation/\">Perseus\u003c/a>, for which the Perseids shower is named, will be rising in the northeast. Perseus is this shower’s “radiant,” the point where the meteors appear to streak from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, putting the two overlapping showers together, how do you tell a Delta Aquarid from a Perseid? The game is on!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The answer can be determined by identifying the two showers’ radiant points: where a time-lapse photo would show meteor trails radiating from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After midnight on August 13, Perseus will sit low on the northeastern horizon, while Aquarius will rest higher in the sky to the south.[aside label=\"More astronomy coverage\" tag=\"astronomy\"]Focus your attention toward the east, and your gaze will encompass the radiants of both showers. When you see a meteor streak across the sky, make note of which direction it is traveling. If it’s flying from a more northerly direction, then it’s a Perseid. From the south? Then it’s an Aquariid.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t really matter. A meteor is a meteor and a sheer thrill to see — no matter what time of the night you see it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>So, what is a meteor anyway?\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/meteor/\">meteor\u003c/a> is a tiny speck of metal or rock from space that enters Earth’s atmosphere and is incinerated in a dazzling flash of incandescence (hopefully) before it can reach Earth’s surface. Before hitting the atmosphere, usually at speeds of multiple miles per second, most meteors are no bigger than a pebble.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Depending on the size, speed and composition of a meteor, it may be bright or faint, fast or less so, or even tinted with color — orange, green, yellow. Fainter meteors appear white because they are not bright enough to stimulate our color vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>What causes a meteor shower?\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/\">meteor shower\u003c/a> happens when the Earth moves through a cloud of dust particles left behind in the wake of a \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=name+asc&search=&condition_1=102%3Aparent_id&condition_2=comet%3Abody_type%3Ailike\">comet\u003c/a> (or sometimes an \u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/09dec_rockcomet\">asteroid\u003c/a>) that traveled through our part of the solar system at some point in the past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a comet orbits the sun, it can shed gas and dust along the way, especially when it passes close to the sun and heats up. Then, some of its frozen volatile material (mostly water) evaporates, blowing into space and carrying bits of dust and small rocks with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every year when Earth moves through a given stream of comet dust, we enjoy a meteor shower. We always see Perseids, for example, in mid-August because that’s the time of year when Earth returns to that particular trail of dust.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Where do these meteors come from?\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Most meteor showers can be traced to a specific parent comet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1983526\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1983526\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/96P_20070403_000500_HI1A-Macholz-STEREO.png\" alt=\"A comet streaking across space.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Comet 96P/Machholz. This image was captured by one of NASA’s twin STEREO spacecraft. \u003ccite>(NASA/STEREO)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Delta Aquariids are believed to be the dusty debris left behind by a 4-mile-wide comet named \u003ca href=\"https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/return-of-the-comet-96p-spotted-by-esa-nasa-satellites\">96P/Machholz\u003c/a>, which was discovered by amateur astronomer Donald Machholz in 1986 from the Loma Prieta peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains. \u003ca href=\"https://www.heavens-above.com/comet.aspx?cid=96P\">96P/Machholz orbits the sun\u003c/a> about every five years, coming \u003ca href=\"https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/comet-96p-machholz-observed-nasasoho-instrument\">within 12 million miles of the sun\u003c/a>, three times closer than the planet Mercury. These characteristics have earned 96/Machholz the designation of a “sun-grazing comet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In contrast, the instigating comet of the Perseids meteor shower, \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/109p-swift-tuttle/in-depth/\">109P/Swift-Tuttle\u003c/a>, takes the long way around the sun, orbiting once every 133 years. Swift-Tuttle was discovered in 1862 by Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle. Their independent observations were made only three days apart, earning them a shared comet name. Swift-Tuttle is also larger than 96P/Machholz, with a nucleus diameter of 16 miles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1983529\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 938px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1983529 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA.jpg\" alt=\"A sequence of three images of a comet grazing the sun.\" width=\"938\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA.jpg 938w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA-800x274.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA-160x55.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA-768x263.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 938px) 100vw, 938px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sequence of images of the sun-grazing comet 96P/ Machholz as it passed through perihelion last January, coming within only 12 million miles of the sun. Captured by the LASCO instrument aboard the NASA/ESA SOHO spacecraft, the sun’s disk is hidden behind a blackout occulting disk, revealing the bright plasma of the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona. \u003ccite>(SOHO/NASA/ESA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A version of this story originally published on July 19, 2023.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The annual Perseids meteor shower, which peaks this year on August 13, is joined by the overlapping Delta Aquariids shower, offering a two-for-one meteor viewing opportunity in a dark sky near you.",
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"title": "Watch the Perseids & Delta Aquariids Meteor Showers | KQED",
"description": "Discover when and where to view the Perseids and Delta Aquariids meteor showers. Learn tips for optimal viewing and how to distinguish between the two.",
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"headline": "Your Guide to Viewing the Perseids and Delta Aquariids Meteor Showers",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update: The Perseids meteor shower will be at its peak this weekend, starting at 1 a.m. on Sunday, August 13. \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to \u003ca href=\"#perseidsmeteorshower\">how to spot these meteors, where to see the Perseids this weekend\u003c/a> and how to watch for Delta Aquariids too.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Are you ready for another meteor shower to delight your early morning sky watching? How about a two-for-one deal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the annual Perseids meteor shower grows closer to its peak of activity in mid-August, another, lesser-known shower, called the Delta Aquariids, is already underway, and will continue into late August.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means as you camp out in the early morning on August 13 to watch Perseids, you may see some Delta Aquariids as well!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fun is in figuring out which streaks belong to which shower.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where and when to see the Delta Aquariids\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/delta-aquariids/in-depth/\">Delta Aquariids\u003c/a> shower is active between July 18 and August 21, with peak activity around July 29–31. The shower can produce as many as 20 meteors per hour if viewing conditions are good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Delta Aquariids tend to be faint meteors, making them more difficult to spot except when the sky is very dark. This year, the moon approaches its full phase during the Delta Aquariids’ peak, but sets a few hours before dawn, offering an early morning window of moonless sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the morning of July 29, the moon sets just after 2 a.m., and on July 30 after 3 a.m., allowing for prime meteor-watching conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1983528\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1398px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1983528 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023.jpg\" alt=\"A night-sky constellation map.\" width=\"1398\" height=\"715\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023.jpg 1398w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023-800x409.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023-1020x522.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023-160x82.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/perseids-and-delta-aquarids-2023-768x393.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1398px) 100vw, 1398px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Map of the sky looking to the southeast, around 2 a.m., on Aug. 13, 2023. The radiant point for the Perseids meteor shower, the constellation Perseus, rises over the northeastern horizon, while that of the Delta Aquariids (Aquarius) rests high in the south. The planet Saturn punctuates the modest stars of Aquarius, offering a visual guide. \u003ccite>(Chabot Space & Science Center/Image created using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you choose to look for these meteors during the shower peak, pick a safe \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">dark-sky location\u003c/a> away from city lights and schedule your viewing to begin no earlier than 2 or 3 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You’ll have a good two or three hours of dark, moonless sky before twilight begins to glow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Look toward the south, taking in the view of the southern sky with your gaze centered about halfway between the horizon and the zenith point directly overhead to spot the constellation \u003ca href=\"https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/aquarius-constellation/\">Aquarius\u003c/a>. The Delta Aquariids shower is named for one of the constellation’s brighter stars, Delta Aquarii.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>None of the stars of Aquarius is outstandingly bright, but this year there’s a handy visual reference to guide your eye: The planet Saturn sits right in the middle of the constellation.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"perseidsmeteorshower\">\u003c/a>Where and when to see the Perseids\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you decide to skip viewing the Delta Aquariids during its peak, you still have a shot at seeing some cascading meteors during the more prominent \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/perseids/in-depth/\">Perseids \u003c/a>shower, which will peak on the morning of Sunday, August 13.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Watch for meteors anytime after 1 a.m. Perseids tend to be brighter than Delta Aquariids, and this shower reliably produces up to 60 meteors per hour in dark viewing conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The waning crescent moon doesn’t rise until 3:30 a.m., so once again, you will have two or three hours of dark meteor-viewing time — and the moon’s thin crescent won’t put too much light into the sky anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1983527\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1983527 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan.jpg\" alt=\"A meteor as seen in space from the International Space Station.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"852\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan.jpg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-NASA-Ron-Garan-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Perseid meteor captured by astronaut Ron Garan from the International Space Station. \u003ccite>(NASA/Ron Garan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At 1 a.m. on August 13, the constellation \u003ca href=\"https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/perseus-constellation/\">Perseus\u003c/a>, for which the Perseids shower is named, will be rising in the northeast. Perseus is this shower’s “radiant,” the point where the meteors appear to streak from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, putting the two overlapping showers together, how do you tell a Delta Aquarid from a Perseid? The game is on!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The answer can be determined by identifying the two showers’ radiant points: where a time-lapse photo would show meteor trails radiating from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After midnight on August 13, Perseus will sit low on the northeastern horizon, while Aquarius will rest higher in the sky to the south.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Focus your attention toward the east, and your gaze will encompass the radiants of both showers. When you see a meteor streak across the sky, make note of which direction it is traveling. If it’s flying from a more northerly direction, then it’s a Perseid. From the south? Then it’s an Aquariid.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t really matter. A meteor is a meteor and a sheer thrill to see — no matter what time of the night you see it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>So, what is a meteor anyway?\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/meteor/\">meteor\u003c/a> is a tiny speck of metal or rock from space that enters Earth’s atmosphere and is incinerated in a dazzling flash of incandescence (hopefully) before it can reach Earth’s surface. Before hitting the atmosphere, usually at speeds of multiple miles per second, most meteors are no bigger than a pebble.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Depending on the size, speed and composition of a meteor, it may be bright or faint, fast or less so, or even tinted with color — orange, green, yellow. Fainter meteors appear white because they are not bright enough to stimulate our color vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>What causes a meteor shower?\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/\">meteor shower\u003c/a> happens when the Earth moves through a cloud of dust particles left behind in the wake of a \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=name+asc&search=&condition_1=102%3Aparent_id&condition_2=comet%3Abody_type%3Ailike\">comet\u003c/a> (or sometimes an \u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/09dec_rockcomet\">asteroid\u003c/a>) that traveled through our part of the solar system at some point in the past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a comet orbits the sun, it can shed gas and dust along the way, especially when it passes close to the sun and heats up. Then, some of its frozen volatile material (mostly water) evaporates, blowing into space and carrying bits of dust and small rocks with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every year when Earth moves through a given stream of comet dust, we enjoy a meteor shower. We always see Perseids, for example, in mid-August because that’s the time of year when Earth returns to that particular trail of dust.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Where do these meteors come from?\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Most meteor showers can be traced to a specific parent comet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1983526\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1983526\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/96P_20070403_000500_HI1A-Macholz-STEREO.png\" alt=\"A comet streaking across space.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Comet 96P/Machholz. This image was captured by one of NASA’s twin STEREO spacecraft. \u003ccite>(NASA/STEREO)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Delta Aquariids are believed to be the dusty debris left behind by a 4-mile-wide comet named \u003ca href=\"https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/return-of-the-comet-96p-spotted-by-esa-nasa-satellites\">96P/Machholz\u003c/a>, which was discovered by amateur astronomer Donald Machholz in 1986 from the Loma Prieta peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains. \u003ca href=\"https://www.heavens-above.com/comet.aspx?cid=96P\">96P/Machholz orbits the sun\u003c/a> about every five years, coming \u003ca href=\"https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/comet-96p-machholz-observed-nasasoho-instrument\">within 12 million miles of the sun\u003c/a>, three times closer than the planet Mercury. These characteristics have earned 96/Machholz the designation of a “sun-grazing comet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In contrast, the instigating comet of the Perseids meteor shower, \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/109p-swift-tuttle/in-depth/\">109P/Swift-Tuttle\u003c/a>, takes the long way around the sun, orbiting once every 133 years. Swift-Tuttle was discovered in 1862 by Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle. Their independent observations were made only three days apart, earning them a shared comet name. Swift-Tuttle is also larger than 96P/Machholz, with a nucleus diameter of 16 miles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1983529\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 938px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1983529 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA.jpg\" alt=\"A sequence of three images of a comet grazing the sun.\" width=\"938\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA.jpg 938w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA-800x274.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA-160x55.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/07/SOHO-LASCO-Macholz-Jan2023-Perihelion-NASA-ESA-768x263.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 938px) 100vw, 938px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sequence of images of the sun-grazing comet 96P/ Machholz as it passed through perihelion last January, coming within only 12 million miles of the sun. Captured by the LASCO instrument aboard the NASA/ESA SOHO spacecraft, the sun’s disk is hidden behind a blackout occulting disk, revealing the bright plasma of the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona. \u003ccite>(SOHO/NASA/ESA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A version of this story originally published on July 19, 2023.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Meteors, Supermoons, Eclipse: Mark Your Calendars for These 2023 Astronomical Delights",
"headTitle": "Meteors, Supermoons, Eclipse: Mark Your Calendars for These 2023 Astronomical Delights | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://idsw.darksky.org/\">International Dark Sky Week\u003c/a> — the annual celebration of the night sky, to raise awareness of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11945083/in-search-of-bright-stars-can-the-bay-area-reduce-its-worsening-light-pollution\">light pollution\u003c/a> globally — is April 15–22. And with the new moon approaching, it’s a perfect time to embrace and appreciate our sparkling, enchanting night skies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re hoping to plan a stargazing trip this year, or just get outside and enjoy the view at a stargazing spot near you, keep reading for a guide to the astronomical events to look for this year — with some night photography tips to keep handy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#annulareclipse\">The big event: October’s eclipse\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#wherefinddarkskies\">Where to find dark skies near you\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#nightphotography\">Expert tips for photographing the night sky\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Meteor showers to watch for\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Meteors are small chunks of dirt and dust that were freed up from comets or asteroids that are in orbit around the solar system. The earth intersects with this swarm of dust, and the dust hits Earth’s atmosphere and burns up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ben-burress\">Ben Burress\u003c/a>, staff astronomer at \u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/\">Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a>, there will be four meteor showers this year that will be worth planning for in the Bay Area and beyond … if \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/karlthefog/?hl=en\">Karl the Fog\u003c/a> doesn’t get in the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/lyrids.html\">See the Lyrids April 21–22, 2023\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1982233/the-lyrids-meteor-shower-adds-its-own-fiery-blossoms-to-april-skies\">Lyrids meteor shower\u003c/a> will begin to have excellent visibility during the evening of April 21, and will peak going into the morning of Saturday, April 22 around 2 a.m. The Lyrids will produce about 20 meteors an hour, and because the night will be moonless, it’ll make for a reliable light show. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1982233/the-lyrids-meteor-shower-adds-its-own-fiery-blossoms-to-april-skies\">Read more details on how to watch the Lyrids meteor shower with this guide from Burress.\u003c/a>[aside postID=science_1982233 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/651338main_iss030e260480_rotated_full-NASA-JSC-D.-Pettit-1020x766.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/eta-aquarids.html\">See the Eta Aquarids May 5–6, 2023\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, producing around 60 meteors per hour. The Eta Aquarids is one of two meteor showers created by debris from Comet Halley. Note that there will be a full moon that night, and its light will probably be competing with the meteors. This means your visibility might be low.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html\">See the Perseids Aug. 12–13, 2023\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Aug. 12 and 13, the Perseids meteor shower, one of the more popular showers occurring in the summer, will be visible in our night skies. It will peak at around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13, producing 50 to 100 meteors per hour. There will be a relatively new moon, so not a lot of moonlight will disrupt the view.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/geminids.html\">See the Geminids Dec. 13–14, 2023\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike other meteor showers, the Geminids are associated with an asteroid called the 3200 Phaethon, instead of a comet. The Geminids produce up to 120 meteors per hour, and a moonless night will again make this worth watching out for. “It’s pretty active and it’s usually nice dark skies because it’s in the winter,” Burress said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Supermoons to see starting in July\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to these meteor showers, we’ll also be able to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.farmersalmanac.com/supermoon-11971#:~:text=The%20first%20is%20on%20July,19th%20in%20Pacific%20Time%20Zone).\">four supermoons this year, in July, August and September\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supermoons look slightly larger and brighter than your average full moon and are always a spectacle if you get the chance to see them on a clear night. They’re hard to miss.[aside postID=news_11945083 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/pexels-griffin-wooldridge-5111788-1020x620.jpg']The first supermoon will be on July 3, and called the buck moon. The sturgeon moon will be visible on Aug. 1, the blue moon on Aug. 31, and the last of the four, the harvest moon, will illuminate our skies on Sept. 29. \u003ca href=\"https://www.farmersalmanac.com/supermoon-11971#:~:text=The%20first%20is%20on%20July,19th%20in%20Pacific%20Time%20Zone).\">Read more about the four supermoons to watch for in 2023.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"annulareclipse\">\u003c/a>The big event: October’s annular solar eclipse\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On Oct. 14, 2023, we will be able to experience an \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/overview/\">annular solar eclipse\u003c/a>. Unlike a total solar eclipse, where the sun is fully covered by the moon, during an annular eclipse the moon is a little bit further away in its orbit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So it doesn’t quite cover the sun, but it leaves the ring of fire around the dark circle of the moon,” said \u003ca href=\"https://www.fraknoi.com/\">Andrew Fraknoi\u003c/a>, an astronomer and board member of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.seti.org/\">SETI Institute\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The eclipse, which will happen on a Saturday, will chart a path under which you can see it from Oregon all the way to Texas. The Bay Area won’t be in the path of totality, but we will see a partial eclipse, where part of the sun will be covered by the moon, making it notably dimmer outside. \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/overview/\">See a map of the annular eclipse’s path on the “Where & When” tab from this guide at NASA.gov.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burress says the moon will block out about 80% of the sun in the morning of Oct. 14 from about 8:05 a.m. to 10:42 a.m. The mid-eclipse, where the sun will mostly be covered, will be around 9:20 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982248\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982248\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A view of a total solar eclipse when the sun is fully blocked by the moon to create a dark sky. \" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">2017 total solar eclipse. \u003ccite>(Jorge Villalba/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_August_21,_2017\">The last time we had a total eclipse of the sun over the United States\u003c/a> was in 2017, an event that awed the nation. Next year, on April 8, 2024, \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2024/apr-8-total/where-when/\">a total eclipse will be visible in the U.S.\u003c/a> once again, starting over Texas and traversing northeast toward Canada, Fraknoi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fraknoi is one of the principals in \u003ca href=\"https://www.moore.org/grant-detail?grantId=GBMF10756\">an eclipse education project as part of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation\u003c/a> that will be distributing 5 million safe-viewing eclipse glasses and information materials through 10,000 public libraries nationwide. During a solar eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the sun without solar-filtered eyewear designed for solar viewing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Organizations across North America, including the American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the National Science Teaching Association, are gearing up to help train eclipse “explainers” and disseminate reliable information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"wherefinddarkskies\">\u003c/a>Where to find dark skies\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The general advice for success in stargazing is to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11945083/in-search-of-bright-stars-can-the-bay-area-reduce-its-worsening-light-pollution\">find a dark spot, away from city lights\u003c/a>. Once you’ve found it, give your eyes a chance to get adapted, and then look all over the sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Places like Henry W. Coe State Park in the South Bay, Skyline Boulevard in Oakland and Mount Diablo in the East Bay, Mount Tamalpais and Point Reyes in Marin County, and Bodega Bay in Sonoma County in the North Bay have especially dark skies and optimal conditions for stargazing. On the peninsula, Pescadero and the Santa Cruz Mountains are good spots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re willing to drive a bit further, you can head out of the Bay Area to places like Pinnacles National Park, Death Valley, Yosemite or other national parks that usually have less light pollution. Or, \u003ca href=\"https://darksitefinder.com/dark-sites/list-of-dark-sites/\">refer to a dark sky map\u003c/a> to find out where you’ll have the best view.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can join a free telescope viewing at \u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/\">Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a> in Oakland. On the peninsula, there’s the \u003ca href=\"https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html\">Foothill College Observatory\u003c/a> in Los Altos Hills, and in the North Bay you can go to the Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sonoma County, which regularly has telescope viewings available to the public.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982247\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982247\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-800x532.jpg\" alt=\"A person is looking through a telescope.\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-1020x678.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kayleen Mojica, 21, laughs as she peers at Venus through the 8-inch Alvan Clark Refractor telescope at Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland on Feb. 17, 2023. \u003ccite>(Kori Suzuki/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Or you could join an astronomy club, like the \u003ca href=\"https://sfaa-astronomy.org/\">San Francisco Amateur Astronomers\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are actually hundreds of clubs of astronomy enthusiasts around the country. And in the Bay Area, we have a very rich collection of astronomy clubs,” said Fraknoi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find other fellow astronomy enthusiasts on \u003ca href=\"https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm\">NASA’s Night Sky Network\u003c/a>, many of whom host star parties and astronomy events, including camping trips.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"nightphotography\">\u003c/a>Tips for taking photos of stars and meteor showers\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.shreeniclix.com/\">Shreenivasan Manievannan\u003c/a>, a professional photographer and Bay Area resident, has been an advocate at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.darksky.org/\">International Dark-Sky Association\u003c/a> since 2014. He’s involved with public outreach activities that promote the protection of our dark skies. This includes sharing his love of astrophotography through photos and time-lapse videos of the amazing views of our cosmos and organizing workshops about the importance of our dark skies at public libraries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For those interested in taking photos of the night sky, Manievannan says you should first understand which camera suits your need and what you are trying to capture. If you’re planning on shooting high-quality images and are ready to make the investment, Manievannan’s advice is to first \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-lens_reflex_camera\">look for a basic SLR or mirrorless camera\u003c/a> with a good wide-angle lens, a camera that can take long exposure shots, like 15 to 30 seconds long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re not ready to make an investment but still want to take some good night shots, he says most camera phones these days can take decent photos of the night sky, and are equipped with night mode functions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The second important tip, he says: Make sure you have a camera mount or a tripod. The mounts will help capture those really long exposures, something that can’t be done reliably by just holding it with your hands. \u003ca href=\"https://www.space.com/astrophotography-for-beginners-guide\">Read a detailed guide for astrophotography for beginners from space.com.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.instagram.com/p/Clk42fCu9_l/\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Timing matters, too. Manievannan said his favorite time of year to capture the Milky Way, for example, is the summer, when “you would be able to see the Milky Way rising in the southeast, soon after sunset.” His favorite places to capture the Milky Way are the Sierra Nevada, Bodega Bay, Davenport and Pescadero. He also recommends looking for the Perseids. “The number of meteors per hour is pretty consistent with Perseids, and the meteors are really bright. And then it has a long trail, too, at times,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These days he particularly enjoys taking his 7-year-old daughter out to enjoy the night sky. “I’ve been taking her since she was 1 or 2,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Manievannan hopes that, especially for Dark Sky Week, while the moon is not as bright, people take the opportunity to step outside to enjoy the beauty of the night sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To join in the celebration of International Dark Sky Week in the Bay Area, head over to \u003ca href=\"https://darkskypointreyes.com/dark-sky-point-reyes-community-events/\">Point Reyes Station on Wed., April 19\u003c/a>, for a session about light pollution and talks about preserving our dark skies. There’s also a members-only star party with the \u003ca href=\"https://sfaa-astronomy.org/event-5091446\">San Francisco Amateur Astronomers on Sat., April 15 at Mount Tamalpais\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://idsw.darksky.org/\">International Dark Sky Week\u003c/a> — the annual celebration of the night sky, to raise awareness of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11945083/in-search-of-bright-stars-can-the-bay-area-reduce-its-worsening-light-pollution\">light pollution\u003c/a> globally — is April 15–22. And with the new moon approaching, it’s a perfect time to embrace and appreciate our sparkling, enchanting night skies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re hoping to plan a stargazing trip this year, or just get outside and enjoy the view at a stargazing spot near you, keep reading for a guide to the astronomical events to look for this year — with some night photography tips to keep handy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#annulareclipse\">The big event: October’s eclipse\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#wherefinddarkskies\">Where to find dark skies near you\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#nightphotography\">Expert tips for photographing the night sky\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Meteor showers to watch for\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Meteors are small chunks of dirt and dust that were freed up from comets or asteroids that are in orbit around the solar system. The earth intersects with this swarm of dust, and the dust hits Earth’s atmosphere and burns up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ben-burress\">Ben Burress\u003c/a>, staff astronomer at \u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/\">Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a>, there will be four meteor showers this year that will be worth planning for in the Bay Area and beyond … if \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/karlthefog/?hl=en\">Karl the Fog\u003c/a> doesn’t get in the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/lyrids.html\">See the Lyrids April 21–22, 2023\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1982233/the-lyrids-meteor-shower-adds-its-own-fiery-blossoms-to-april-skies\">Lyrids meteor shower\u003c/a> will begin to have excellent visibility during the evening of April 21, and will peak going into the morning of Saturday, April 22 around 2 a.m. The Lyrids will produce about 20 meteors an hour, and because the night will be moonless, it’ll make for a reliable light show. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1982233/the-lyrids-meteor-shower-adds-its-own-fiery-blossoms-to-april-skies\">Read more details on how to watch the Lyrids meteor shower with this guide from Burress.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/eta-aquarids.html\">See the Eta Aquarids May 5–6, 2023\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, producing around 60 meteors per hour. The Eta Aquarids is one of two meteor showers created by debris from Comet Halley. Note that there will be a full moon that night, and its light will probably be competing with the meteors. This means your visibility might be low.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html\">See the Perseids Aug. 12–13, 2023\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Aug. 12 and 13, the Perseids meteor shower, one of the more popular showers occurring in the summer, will be visible in our night skies. It will peak at around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13, producing 50 to 100 meteors per hour. There will be a relatively new moon, so not a lot of moonlight will disrupt the view.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/geminids.html\">See the Geminids Dec. 13–14, 2023\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike other meteor showers, the Geminids are associated with an asteroid called the 3200 Phaethon, instead of a comet. The Geminids produce up to 120 meteors per hour, and a moonless night will again make this worth watching out for. “It’s pretty active and it’s usually nice dark skies because it’s in the winter,” Burress said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Supermoons to see starting in July\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to these meteor showers, we’ll also be able to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.farmersalmanac.com/supermoon-11971#:~:text=The%20first%20is%20on%20July,19th%20in%20Pacific%20Time%20Zone).\">four supermoons this year, in July, August and September\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supermoons look slightly larger and brighter than your average full moon and are always a spectacle if you get the chance to see them on a clear night. They’re hard to miss.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The first supermoon will be on July 3, and called the buck moon. The sturgeon moon will be visible on Aug. 1, the blue moon on Aug. 31, and the last of the four, the harvest moon, will illuminate our skies on Sept. 29. \u003ca href=\"https://www.farmersalmanac.com/supermoon-11971#:~:text=The%20first%20is%20on%20July,19th%20in%20Pacific%20Time%20Zone).\">Read more about the four supermoons to watch for in 2023.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"annulareclipse\">\u003c/a>The big event: October’s annular solar eclipse\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On Oct. 14, 2023, we will be able to experience an \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/overview/\">annular solar eclipse\u003c/a>. Unlike a total solar eclipse, where the sun is fully covered by the moon, during an annular eclipse the moon is a little bit further away in its orbit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So it doesn’t quite cover the sun, but it leaves the ring of fire around the dark circle of the moon,” said \u003ca href=\"https://www.fraknoi.com/\">Andrew Fraknoi\u003c/a>, an astronomer and board member of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.seti.org/\">SETI Institute\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The eclipse, which will happen on a Saturday, will chart a path under which you can see it from Oregon all the way to Texas. The Bay Area won’t be in the path of totality, but we will see a partial eclipse, where part of the sun will be covered by the moon, making it notably dimmer outside. \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/overview/\">See a map of the annular eclipse’s path on the “Where & When” tab from this guide at NASA.gov.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burress says the moon will block out about 80% of the sun in the morning of Oct. 14 from about 8:05 a.m. to 10:42 a.m. The mid-eclipse, where the sun will mostly be covered, will be around 9:20 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982248\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982248\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A view of a total solar eclipse when the sun is fully blocked by the moon to create a dark sky. \" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/GettyImages-838972500-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">2017 total solar eclipse. \u003ccite>(Jorge Villalba/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_August_21,_2017\">The last time we had a total eclipse of the sun over the United States\u003c/a> was in 2017, an event that awed the nation. Next year, on April 8, 2024, \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2024/apr-8-total/where-when/\">a total eclipse will be visible in the U.S.\u003c/a> once again, starting over Texas and traversing northeast toward Canada, Fraknoi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fraknoi is one of the principals in \u003ca href=\"https://www.moore.org/grant-detail?grantId=GBMF10756\">an eclipse education project as part of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation\u003c/a> that will be distributing 5 million safe-viewing eclipse glasses and information materials through 10,000 public libraries nationwide. During a solar eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the sun without solar-filtered eyewear designed for solar viewing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Organizations across North America, including the American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the National Science Teaching Association, are gearing up to help train eclipse “explainers” and disseminate reliable information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"wherefinddarkskies\">\u003c/a>Where to find dark skies\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The general advice for success in stargazing is to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11945083/in-search-of-bright-stars-can-the-bay-area-reduce-its-worsening-light-pollution\">find a dark spot, away from city lights\u003c/a>. Once you’ve found it, give your eyes a chance to get adapted, and then look all over the sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Places like Henry W. Coe State Park in the South Bay, Skyline Boulevard in Oakland and Mount Diablo in the East Bay, Mount Tamalpais and Point Reyes in Marin County, and Bodega Bay in Sonoma County in the North Bay have especially dark skies and optimal conditions for stargazing. On the peninsula, Pescadero and the Santa Cruz Mountains are good spots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re willing to drive a bit further, you can head out of the Bay Area to places like Pinnacles National Park, Death Valley, Yosemite or other national parks that usually have less light pollution. Or, \u003ca href=\"https://darksitefinder.com/dark-sites/list-of-dark-sites/\">refer to a dark sky map\u003c/a> to find out where you’ll have the best view.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can join a free telescope viewing at \u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/\">Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a> in Oakland. On the peninsula, there’s the \u003ca href=\"https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html\">Foothill College Observatory\u003c/a> in Los Altos Hills, and in the North Bay you can go to the Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sonoma County, which regularly has telescope viewings available to the public.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982247\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982247\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-800x532.jpg\" alt=\"A person is looking through a telescope.\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-1020x678.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/RS63098_02172023_chabotastronomy-040-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kayleen Mojica, 21, laughs as she peers at Venus through the 8-inch Alvan Clark Refractor telescope at Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland on Feb. 17, 2023. \u003ccite>(Kori Suzuki/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Or you could join an astronomy club, like the \u003ca href=\"https://sfaa-astronomy.org/\">San Francisco Amateur Astronomers\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are actually hundreds of clubs of astronomy enthusiasts around the country. And in the Bay Area, we have a very rich collection of astronomy clubs,” said Fraknoi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find other fellow astronomy enthusiasts on \u003ca href=\"https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm\">NASA’s Night Sky Network\u003c/a>, many of whom host star parties and astronomy events, including camping trips.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"nightphotography\">\u003c/a>Tips for taking photos of stars and meteor showers\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.shreeniclix.com/\">Shreenivasan Manievannan\u003c/a>, a professional photographer and Bay Area resident, has been an advocate at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.darksky.org/\">International Dark-Sky Association\u003c/a> since 2014. He’s involved with public outreach activities that promote the protection of our dark skies. This includes sharing his love of astrophotography through photos and time-lapse videos of the amazing views of our cosmos and organizing workshops about the importance of our dark skies at public libraries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For those interested in taking photos of the night sky, Manievannan says you should first understand which camera suits your need and what you are trying to capture. If you’re planning on shooting high-quality images and are ready to make the investment, Manievannan’s advice is to first \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-lens_reflex_camera\">look for a basic SLR or mirrorless camera\u003c/a> with a good wide-angle lens, a camera that can take long exposure shots, like 15 to 30 seconds long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re not ready to make an investment but still want to take some good night shots, he says most camera phones these days can take decent photos of the night sky, and are equipped with night mode functions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The second important tip, he says: Make sure you have a camera mount or a tripod. The mounts will help capture those really long exposures, something that can’t be done reliably by just holding it with your hands. \u003ca href=\"https://www.space.com/astrophotography-for-beginners-guide\">Read a detailed guide for astrophotography for beginners from space.com.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Timing matters, too. Manievannan said his favorite time of year to capture the Milky Way, for example, is the summer, when “you would be able to see the Milky Way rising in the southeast, soon after sunset.” His favorite places to capture the Milky Way are the Sierra Nevada, Bodega Bay, Davenport and Pescadero. He also recommends looking for the Perseids. “The number of meteors per hour is pretty consistent with Perseids, and the meteors are really bright. And then it has a long trail, too, at times,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These days he particularly enjoys taking his 7-year-old daughter out to enjoy the night sky. “I’ve been taking her since she was 1 or 2,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Manievannan hopes that, especially for Dark Sky Week, while the moon is not as bright, people take the opportunity to step outside to enjoy the beauty of the night sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To join in the celebration of International Dark Sky Week in the Bay Area, head over to \u003ca href=\"https://darkskypointreyes.com/dark-sky-point-reyes-community-events/\">Point Reyes Station on Wed., April 19\u003c/a>, for a session about light pollution and talks about preserving our dark skies. There’s also a members-only star party with the \u003ca href=\"https://sfaa-astronomy.org/event-5091446\">San Francisco Amateur Astronomers on Sat., April 15 at Mount Tamalpais\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "The Lyrids Meteor Shower Adds Its Own Fiery Blossoms to April Skies",
"headTitle": "The Lyrids Meteor Shower Adds Its Own Fiery Blossoms to April Skies | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>A month into spring, something more than flowers are popping up — or down — meteors! Like pale night-blooming petals falling from a celestial tree, the annual Lyrids meteor shower will cascade over our heads from late evening on April 21 through early morning on Saturday, April 22.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Here’s how to see the meteors\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The best time to watch for Lyrids meteors is after midnight on the morning of Saturday, April 22. At this time, the area of the sky the meteors appear to streak from, in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/lyra-constellation/\"> constellation Lyra\u003c/a>, is rising in the east, and by 2 a.m. will be positioned high in the southeast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982236\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1131px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1982236 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am.jpg\" alt=\"Black night dotted by white starts and a directional axis across the bottom, showing NE in the lower left, E and SE to the right. \" width=\"1131\" height=\"765\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am.jpg 1131w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am-800x541.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am-1020x690.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am-768x519.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1131px) 100vw, 1131px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The southeastern sky on the morning of April 22 at about 2 a.m. Look for the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra to gaze at the radiant point of the Lyrids meteor shower. \u003ccite>(Chabot Space and Science Center/Made using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Find a place with a good view of the southeastern sky, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">as far from city lights\u003c/a> as possible, and center your sight on the star Vega, the brightest in Lyra and one of the brightest stars of the night sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, watch and wait — and pay attention to your peripheral vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even though the meteors’ point of origin is in Lyra, the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. In fact, the meteor trails will be longer and more visible the farther they are from their “\u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/radiant-point-of-meteor-showers/\">radiant point\u003c/a>” in Lyra since you’re looking at them from the side instead of head-on. \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/lyrids/in-depth/\">The Lyrids shower\u003c/a> produces up to 18 meteors per hour around its peak of activity, under good seeing conditions and dark, clear skies. The moon won’t be in the sky, only three days past its new phase, so moonlight will not interfere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you live under city skies \u003ca href=\"https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/\">inundated by scattered light\u003c/a>, you may miss out on the fainter meteors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fortunately, the Bay Area has numerous places within a 20- to 30-minute drive that are partly sheltered from light pollution, if you’re willing to make the late-night trip. In the South Bay, Henry W. Coe State Park is a favorite dark-sky watching location. On the peninsula, there are numerous spots from the Santa Cruz Mountains northward along Skyline Boulevard for a pullover with partial protection from city light. In the East Bay, go for the Sunol area, Mount Diablo or a ridgeline pullout along the East Bay hills from Tilden Park southward into Hayward. In the North Bay, you can find miles of darkened rural skies from the coast eastward.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is a meteor shower?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=id+asc&search=&condition_1=meteor_shower%3Abody_type\">meteor\u003c/a> is a small piece of rock or metal, usually not much bigger than a pebble, that can be seen as it burns up in Earth’s atmosphere. Hitting the thin air 30 to 50 miles above Earth’s surface at speeds of tens of miles per second, each dust speck vaporizes to incandescence in a flash, leaving a glowing trail across the sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982240\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 632px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1982240 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/lyrid_shower.jpg\" alt=\"Bright white lights with long tails against a dark blue image. \" width=\"632\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/lyrid_shower.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/lyrid_shower-160x122.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 632px) 100vw, 632px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Long-exposure image of the sky during the 2012 Lyrids meteor shower. \u003ccite>(NASA/MSFC/Danielle Moser)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/\">meteor \u003ci>shower\u003c/i>\u003c/a> happens when Earth passes through a trail of dust left behind in the wake of a comet. Comets are large chunks of rock, ice and other frozen materials, as well as a smattering of dust. A typical comet is several miles in diameter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When a \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=name+asc&search=&condition_1=102%3Aparent_id&condition_2=comet%3Abody_type%3Ailike\">comet\u003c/a> passes close to the sun, it is warmed and some of its ice sublimates into gas, blowing into space and carrying dust with it. Over time, the dust spreads out into a trail along the parent comet’s orbital path.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where do the Lyrids come from?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Every year, as Earth orbits the sun, it passes through the dust trail of one comet or another, and we see a meteor shower.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The comet that left behind the dust for the Lyrids shower is called \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/c-1861-g1-thatcher/in-depth/\">C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982241\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1982241 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/comettail.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white image that shows a hazy gas tail and a more diffuse dust tail. \" width=\"800\" height=\"1104\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/comettail.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/comettail-160x221.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/comettail-768x1060.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Diagram of a comet showing its icy nucleus, its ion and dust tails, and the trail of dust it leaves behind in its orbital path. \u003ccite>(NASA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>No one alive today has seen Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861 by astronomer A.E. Thatcher when it last passed close to the sun. And no one alive now will ever see it. Thatcher takes over 415 years to orbit the sun, and won’t come close enough for us to witness until the year 2283!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, as you lie on your blanket under the early morning sky, waiting for the next meteor flare to delight, think about how each one you see was left behind by a comet over 160 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gone in a flash, but living on in our wonder.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "The annual Lyrids meteor shower will cascade over our heads from late evening on April 21 through early morning on Saturday, April 22. ",
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"description": "The annual Lyrids meteor shower will cascade over our heads from late evening on April 21 through early morning on Saturday, April 22. ",
"title": "The Lyrids Meteor Shower Adds Its Own Fiery Blossoms to April Skies | KQED",
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"headline": "The Lyrids Meteor Shower Adds Its Own Fiery Blossoms to April Skies",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A month into spring, something more than flowers are popping up — or down — meteors! Like pale night-blooming petals falling from a celestial tree, the annual Lyrids meteor shower will cascade over our heads from late evening on April 21 through early morning on Saturday, April 22.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Here’s how to see the meteors\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The best time to watch for Lyrids meteors is after midnight on the morning of Saturday, April 22. At this time, the area of the sky the meteors appear to streak from, in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/lyra-constellation/\"> constellation Lyra\u003c/a>, is rising in the east, and by 2 a.m. will be positioned high in the southeast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982236\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1131px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1982236 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am.jpg\" alt=\"Black night dotted by white starts and a directional axis across the bottom, showing NE in the lower left, E and SE to the right. \" width=\"1131\" height=\"765\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am.jpg 1131w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am-800x541.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am-1020x690.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Lyrids-Stellarium-April22-2am-768x519.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1131px) 100vw, 1131px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The southeastern sky on the morning of April 22 at about 2 a.m. Look for the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra to gaze at the radiant point of the Lyrids meteor shower. \u003ccite>(Chabot Space and Science Center/Made using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Find a place with a good view of the southeastern sky, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">as far from city lights\u003c/a> as possible, and center your sight on the star Vega, the brightest in Lyra and one of the brightest stars of the night sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, watch and wait — and pay attention to your peripheral vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even though the meteors’ point of origin is in Lyra, the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. In fact, the meteor trails will be longer and more visible the farther they are from their “\u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/radiant-point-of-meteor-showers/\">radiant point\u003c/a>” in Lyra since you’re looking at them from the side instead of head-on. \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/lyrids/in-depth/\">The Lyrids shower\u003c/a> produces up to 18 meteors per hour around its peak of activity, under good seeing conditions and dark, clear skies. The moon won’t be in the sky, only three days past its new phase, so moonlight will not interfere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you live under city skies \u003ca href=\"https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/\">inundated by scattered light\u003c/a>, you may miss out on the fainter meteors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fortunately, the Bay Area has numerous places within a 20- to 30-minute drive that are partly sheltered from light pollution, if you’re willing to make the late-night trip. In the South Bay, Henry W. Coe State Park is a favorite dark-sky watching location. On the peninsula, there are numerous spots from the Santa Cruz Mountains northward along Skyline Boulevard for a pullover with partial protection from city light. In the East Bay, go for the Sunol area, Mount Diablo or a ridgeline pullout along the East Bay hills from Tilden Park southward into Hayward. In the North Bay, you can find miles of darkened rural skies from the coast eastward.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is a meteor shower?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=id+asc&search=&condition_1=meteor_shower%3Abody_type\">meteor\u003c/a> is a small piece of rock or metal, usually not much bigger than a pebble, that can be seen as it burns up in Earth’s atmosphere. Hitting the thin air 30 to 50 miles above Earth’s surface at speeds of tens of miles per second, each dust speck vaporizes to incandescence in a flash, leaving a glowing trail across the sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982240\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 632px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1982240 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/lyrid_shower.jpg\" alt=\"Bright white lights with long tails against a dark blue image. \" width=\"632\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/lyrid_shower.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/lyrid_shower-160x122.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 632px) 100vw, 632px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Long-exposure image of the sky during the 2012 Lyrids meteor shower. \u003ccite>(NASA/MSFC/Danielle Moser)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/\">meteor \u003ci>shower\u003c/i>\u003c/a> happens when Earth passes through a trail of dust left behind in the wake of a comet. Comets are large chunks of rock, ice and other frozen materials, as well as a smattering of dust. A typical comet is several miles in diameter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When a \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=name+asc&search=&condition_1=102%3Aparent_id&condition_2=comet%3Abody_type%3Ailike\">comet\u003c/a> passes close to the sun, it is warmed and some of its ice sublimates into gas, blowing into space and carrying dust with it. Over time, the dust spreads out into a trail along the parent comet’s orbital path.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where do the Lyrids come from?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Every year, as Earth orbits the sun, it passes through the dust trail of one comet or another, and we see a meteor shower.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The comet that left behind the dust for the Lyrids shower is called \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/c-1861-g1-thatcher/in-depth/\">C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982241\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1982241 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/comettail.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white image that shows a hazy gas tail and a more diffuse dust tail. \" width=\"800\" height=\"1104\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/comettail.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/comettail-160x221.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/comettail-768x1060.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Diagram of a comet showing its icy nucleus, its ion and dust tails, and the trail of dust it leaves behind in its orbital path. \u003ccite>(NASA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>No one alive today has seen Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861 by astronomer A.E. Thatcher when it last passed close to the sun. And no one alive now will ever see it. Thatcher takes over 415 years to orbit the sun, and won’t come close enough for us to witness until the year 2283!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, as you lie on your blanket under the early morning sky, waiting for the next meteor flare to delight, think about how each one you see was left behind by a comet over 160 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gone in a flash, but living on in our wonder.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "The Geminids Meteor Shower Will Peak Early Wednesday Morning",
"headTitle": "The Geminids Meteor Shower Will Peak Early Wednesday Morning | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>Get ready for one of the year’s best \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/list.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">meteor showers\u003c/a>!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the early morning hours of Wednesday, Dec. 14, the night sky will light up as the Geminids meteor shower reaches its peak of activity, producing exceptionally bright and sometimes colorful meteors to delight any night-sky enthusiast.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How and when to watch Geminids\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Geminids can be seen as early as 10 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Dec. 13. At this time, the meteors’ apparent source, or “\u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/radiant-point-of-meteor-showers/\">radiant point\u003c/a>,” the constellation Gemini, becomes well-positioned in the night sky. This makes the Geminids shower unusual in that some of its meteors can be glimpsed before midnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1980928\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1980928 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy.jpg\" alt='Bright circle labeled \"moon.\" Smaller bright circles for the planets and constellations. ' width=\"1024\" height=\"773\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy-800x604.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy-1020x770.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy-160x121.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy-768x580.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Map of the night sky looking south around 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Dec. 14. The twin stars of the constellation Gemini, the radiant source of meteors of the Geminids shower, are at the top, high in the sky above the asterism called the Winter Triangle, and the constellation Orion. Mars is located westward of this area, bright and prominent, as it is currently near its closest approach to Earth. \u003ccite>(Ben Burress/Made using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chabot Space and Science Center is hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/calendar/geminids-meteor-shower/\">meteor watching party\u003c/a>, beginning at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, and running until 3 a.m. Wednesday morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the shower, meteors will appear to radiate from Gemini, which reaches its highest point in the sky around 2 a.m.; that’ll be the optimum time to see the most shooting stars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Geminids shower typically produces around \u003ca href=\"https://in-the-sky.org/article.php?term=zenithal_hourly_rate\">120 meteors per hour\u003c/a>, so under clear, dark sky conditions, you may see up to two a minute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 2 a.m., Gemini will be almost directly overhead, easily identified by its two equally bright stars, Castor and Pollux, the \u003ca href=\"https://study.com/academy/lesson/castor-pollux-in-greek-mythology-story-mother-constellation.html\">twin brothers of Greek myth\u003c/a>. Meteors may be seen almost anywhere in the sky, but if you lie down on a blanket and lock your gaze onto Gemini above, you’ll maximize the number of falling stars you can catch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year the waning gibbous moon, which is a not-quite-full moon diminishing toward the third-quarter phase, will rise around 10 p.m. on Tuesday evening and remain in the sky until well after dawn. Still, the Geminids shower tends to produce bright meteors that will be visible despite interference from moonlight.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can you find the darkest skies?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The best place to watch a meteor shower is where skies are darkest, away from urban lights. If you live in the city, light pollution can be difficult to avoid, and driving miles from home in the middle of the night can be an undertaking of planning and willpower. But the rewards are well worth it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might see a meteor or two even from a city dwelling, but the Bay Area has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">numerous places you can reach in less than half an hour that provide some protection from city lights\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1980930\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1707px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1980930 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Bright dots scattered across the night sky, blue, orange and red sunset and a glowing orange round buildings. \" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-scaled.jpg 1707w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-1020x1530.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-1920x2880.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Composite image of the telescope domes at Chabot Space and Science Center under the clear night sky. \u003ccite>(Chabot Space and Science Center/Conrad Jung)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the South Bay, Henry Coe State Park is a prime spot. Along the peninsula are dark niches bordering the coastal mountains. North of the bay, in Sonoma and Napa counties, are wide spans of dark country roads to choose from. In the East Bay hills are some good pullouts, from the Tilden Park region all the way south to Sunol. Mount Diablo offers some good spots, as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In any case, you know your home ground best and probably can think of some good spots. Be wise, be safe and dress for the cold.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is a meteor shower?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=id+asc&search=&condition_1=meteor_shower%3Abody_type\">meteor\u003c/a> is a small bit of space rock or metal, typically no bigger than a pebble, that burns up when it enters Earth’s atmosphere traveling at speeds of many miles per second. You’d get pretty hot, too, going that fast through the atmosphere — ask any astronaut who has been to space and returned home in a fiery reentry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1980931\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1980931 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2.jpg\" alt=\"Bright lights across the sky, blue and yellow lines. \" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2-160x90.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Luminous and colorful streaks left behind by shooting stars of the Leonids meteor shower, which takes place annually in November. Color in meteors comes from different composition of the dust grains burning up. Some are composed of stone, others of metal. \u003ccite>(Chabot Space and Science Center/Carter Roberts)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors\">meteor shower\u003c/a> happens when Earth passes through a cloud of dust left behind by the passage of a comet. When Earth slams into the dust cloud, moving along its orbit around the sun at 18 miles per second, its sky becomes filled with the incinerating specks: meteors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meteor showers are best viewed in the early morning hours because the viewer is on the side of the Earth moving into the dust. Think of a car speeding along a freeway and driving through a cloud of flying insects: Bug streaks only appear on the windshield and not the rear window.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where did the Geminids shower come from?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Geminids meteor shower is unusual for another reason. While most showers come from trails of dust left behind by comets that passed through the inner solar system, the Geminids originate from what astronomers call a “rock comet” named \u003ca href=\"https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/lunar/phaethon.html\">3200 Phaeton\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1980929\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 240px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1980929\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/phaeton-asteroid-2017.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Radio telescope image of 3200 Phaeton, the ‘rock comet’ that is the source of dust that produces the Geminids meteor shower. \u003ccite>(Arecibo Observatory/NASA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Unlike typical comets that are made mostly of frozen water and other volatile materials, Phaeton is more like an asteroid, composed of rock and dust and probably some ice as well. When it passes close to the sun, Phaeton heats up, and some of the ice it contains vaporizes, blowing off into space and carrying dust with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>For your added viewing enjoyment\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As long as you’re up so early waiting to see meteors, take the time to look around at some of the sky’s other wonders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First, the moon is up there. Enough said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The planet Mars shines high in the sky to the west of Gemini. To locate this rosy celestial gem, look for a bright orange dot shining steadily, without flickering like stars do. Stars flicker because they are distant enough to be simple delicate points of light, strongly affected by turbulence in Earth’s atmosphere, like candles blowing in the wind. Planets, however, are much closer and appear in the sky as disks, much less influenced by atmospheric refraction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And you can’t miss the complex of bright stars that form Orion and his famous belt of three.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spanning the sky to the south of Gemini is the asterism called the Winter Triangle, formed by the bright orange star Betelgeuse in Orion, the golden-white Procyon, and the brightest star of the night sky, the rainbow sparkler Sirius.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stay warm and enjoy!\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "In the early morning hours of Wednesday, Dec. 14, the night sky will light up — a sure bet to delight any night-sky enthusiast.",
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"headline": "The Geminids Meteor Shower Will Peak Early Wednesday Morning",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Get ready for one of the year’s best \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/list.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">meteor showers\u003c/a>!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the early morning hours of Wednesday, Dec. 14, the night sky will light up as the Geminids meteor shower reaches its peak of activity, producing exceptionally bright and sometimes colorful meteors to delight any night-sky enthusiast.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How and when to watch Geminids\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Geminids can be seen as early as 10 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Dec. 13. At this time, the meteors’ apparent source, or “\u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/radiant-point-of-meteor-showers/\">radiant point\u003c/a>,” the constellation Gemini, becomes well-positioned in the night sky. This makes the Geminids shower unusual in that some of its meteors can be glimpsed before midnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1980928\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1980928 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy.jpg\" alt='Bright circle labeled \"moon.\" Smaller bright circles for the planets and constellations. ' width=\"1024\" height=\"773\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy-800x604.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy-1020x770.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy-160x121.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/Dec142022-2-copy-768x580.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Map of the night sky looking south around 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Dec. 14. The twin stars of the constellation Gemini, the radiant source of meteors of the Geminids shower, are at the top, high in the sky above the asterism called the Winter Triangle, and the constellation Orion. Mars is located westward of this area, bright and prominent, as it is currently near its closest approach to Earth. \u003ccite>(Ben Burress/Made using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chabot Space and Science Center is hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/calendar/geminids-meteor-shower/\">meteor watching party\u003c/a>, beginning at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, and running until 3 a.m. Wednesday morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the shower, meteors will appear to radiate from Gemini, which reaches its highest point in the sky around 2 a.m.; that’ll be the optimum time to see the most shooting stars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Geminids shower typically produces around \u003ca href=\"https://in-the-sky.org/article.php?term=zenithal_hourly_rate\">120 meteors per hour\u003c/a>, so under clear, dark sky conditions, you may see up to two a minute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 2 a.m., Gemini will be almost directly overhead, easily identified by its two equally bright stars, Castor and Pollux, the \u003ca href=\"https://study.com/academy/lesson/castor-pollux-in-greek-mythology-story-mother-constellation.html\">twin brothers of Greek myth\u003c/a>. Meteors may be seen almost anywhere in the sky, but if you lie down on a blanket and lock your gaze onto Gemini above, you’ll maximize the number of falling stars you can catch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year the waning gibbous moon, which is a not-quite-full moon diminishing toward the third-quarter phase, will rise around 10 p.m. on Tuesday evening and remain in the sky until well after dawn. Still, the Geminids shower tends to produce bright meteors that will be visible despite interference from moonlight.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can you find the darkest skies?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The best place to watch a meteor shower is where skies are darkest, away from urban lights. If you live in the city, light pollution can be difficult to avoid, and driving miles from home in the middle of the night can be an undertaking of planning and willpower. But the rewards are well worth it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might see a meteor or two even from a city dwelling, but the Bay Area has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">numerous places you can reach in less than half an hour that provide some protection from city lights\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1980930\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1707px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1980930 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Bright dots scattered across the night sky, blue, orange and red sunset and a glowing orange round buildings. \" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-scaled.jpg 1707w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-1020x1530.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/01_domes-1920x2880.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Composite image of the telescope domes at Chabot Space and Science Center under the clear night sky. \u003ccite>(Chabot Space and Science Center/Conrad Jung)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the South Bay, Henry Coe State Park is a prime spot. Along the peninsula are dark niches bordering the coastal mountains. North of the bay, in Sonoma and Napa counties, are wide spans of dark country roads to choose from. In the East Bay hills are some good pullouts, from the Tilden Park region all the way south to Sunol. Mount Diablo offers some good spots, as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In any case, you know your home ground best and probably can think of some good spots. Be wise, be safe and dress for the cold.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is a meteor shower?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=id+asc&search=&condition_1=meteor_shower%3Abody_type\">meteor\u003c/a> is a small bit of space rock or metal, typically no bigger than a pebble, that burns up when it enters Earth’s atmosphere traveling at speeds of many miles per second. You’d get pretty hot, too, going that fast through the atmosphere — ask any astronaut who has been to space and returned home in a fiery reentry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1980931\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1980931 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2.jpg\" alt=\"Bright lights across the sky, blue and yellow lines. \" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-2-160x90.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Luminous and colorful streaks left behind by shooting stars of the Leonids meteor shower, which takes place annually in November. Color in meteors comes from different composition of the dust grains burning up. Some are composed of stone, others of metal. \u003ccite>(Chabot Space and Science Center/Carter Roberts)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors\">meteor shower\u003c/a> happens when Earth passes through a cloud of dust left behind by the passage of a comet. When Earth slams into the dust cloud, moving along its orbit around the sun at 18 miles per second, its sky becomes filled with the incinerating specks: meteors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meteor showers are best viewed in the early morning hours because the viewer is on the side of the Earth moving into the dust. Think of a car speeding along a freeway and driving through a cloud of flying insects: Bug streaks only appear on the windshield and not the rear window.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where did the Geminids shower come from?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Geminids meteor shower is unusual for another reason. While most showers come from trails of dust left behind by comets that passed through the inner solar system, the Geminids originate from what astronomers call a “rock comet” named \u003ca href=\"https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/lunar/phaethon.html\">3200 Phaeton\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1980929\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 240px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1980929\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/12/phaeton-asteroid-2017.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Radio telescope image of 3200 Phaeton, the ‘rock comet’ that is the source of dust that produces the Geminids meteor shower. \u003ccite>(Arecibo Observatory/NASA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Unlike typical comets that are made mostly of frozen water and other volatile materials, Phaeton is more like an asteroid, composed of rock and dust and probably some ice as well. When it passes close to the sun, Phaeton heats up, and some of the ice it contains vaporizes, blowing off into space and carrying dust with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>For your added viewing enjoyment\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As long as you’re up so early waiting to see meteors, take the time to look around at some of the sky’s other wonders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First, the moon is up there. Enough said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The planet Mars shines high in the sky to the west of Gemini. To locate this rosy celestial gem, look for a bright orange dot shining steadily, without flickering like stars do. Stars flicker because they are distant enough to be simple delicate points of light, strongly affected by turbulence in Earth’s atmosphere, like candles blowing in the wind. Planets, however, are much closer and appear in the sky as disks, much less influenced by atmospheric refraction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And you can’t miss the complex of bright stars that form Orion and his famous belt of three.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spanning the sky to the south of Gemini is the asterism called the Winter Triangle, formed by the bright orange star Betelgeuse in Orion, the golden-white Procyon, and the brightest star of the night sky, the rainbow sparkler Sirius.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stay warm and enjoy!\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "How to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower Now",
"headTitle": "How to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower Now | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The annual \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Perseid meteor shower\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> will \u003ca href=\"https://www.amsmeteors.org/2022/08/viewing-the-perseid-meteor-shower-in-2022/\">reach its peak\u003c/a> activity in the early mornings on Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13. In the hours leading up to dawn, you could see as many as 50 meteors per hour – almost one a minute – with clear, dark viewing conditions. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The annual Perseids meteor shower in August is \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/perseids/in-depth/\">one of the best and most reliable shooting star shows of the year\u003c/a>. The full moon will be in the sky all night and moonlight will challenge you to see fainter Perseids, but the brighter ones will still be easy to spot. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1968031\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1968031\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"The image shows streaks of light all coming from one area in the dark sky. The streaks fan across the image from left of center in all directions.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Time lapse image taken during the Perseid meteor shower in 2009. When viewing this meteor shower with your eyes, you will usually see only one meteor at a time, about once per minute on average. The time lapse image reveals how the Perseids seem to radiate from a common point, the shower’s “radiant point.” \u003ccite>(NASA/JPL)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u003c/span>\u003cb>Where do I look?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">After midnight, looking to the northeast will face you toward the Perseids’ “radiant point,” the spot in the sky they will streak from. This is in the constellation \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://astrobackyard.com/perseus-constellation/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Perseus\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the shower’s namesake. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Find a good viewing location with a dark sky and a clear view to the east, free of obstructions like hills, trees and buildings. Get comfortable and watch the sky. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Though the meteors will radiate from the vicinity of Perseus, they can flash across any part of the sky. You never know when or where one will appear, so set your sights on the entire scene, just like you would watch a big-screen action film you haven’t seen before. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1979921\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1979921\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-800x531.jpg\" alt=\"A view of a dark blue northeastern sky, with a narrow curve of buildings and trees below. The image shows how the sky will look on the morning of August 12, 2022. The constellations of Ursa Major, Lynx and Orion are barely visible, rising above the horizon, with Aunga and Taurus just above them. Across the middle of the image are Ursa Minor, Camelopardalis and Perseus, the constellation from where the Perseid meteors come. To the right of Perseus, Mars is a bright circle in the sky. At the top of the image are the Cassiopeia, Triangulum and Aries.\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-800x531.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-1020x676.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01.jpg 1244w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of how the northeastern sky will look at 2:00 a.m. on the morning of August 12, featuring the location of the constellation Perseus and the radiant point of the Perseids meteor shower. Mars will shine bright in the east as well. \u003ccite>(Ben Burress - chart made using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Where do I go to see them?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can see the Perseids shower from anywhere with an unobstructed view of the sky, even your own backyard. If you live in a city, the number of falling stars you might catch will be limited by the height of obstacles around you and by light pollution from streetlights, buildings, and cars – so it helps to get away from that if possible. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fortunately \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">there are places around the Bay where you can find relatively dark skies\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> if you’re willing to travel a bit. These include \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=561\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Henry Coe State Park\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in the south bay, Mount Diablo in the east, just about anywhere in the north bay area, and along Skyline Boulevard on the peninsula. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/calendar/perseids-meteor-shower/\">Chabot Space & Science Center\u003c/a> is holding a meteor watching party on its observatory deck, weather permitting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stay safe, check the weather forecast for clear skies, and dress appropriately. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1979920\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1979920\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small.jpg\" alt=\"The image shows a view of the night sky as a circle bounded by trees below and the curve of a lens above. The Milky Way runs bright in white, blue and purple through the center of the image. The streak of a meteor shoots from the center of the image up toward the right.\" width=\"800\" height=\"636\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small-160x127.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small-768x611.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Perseids meteor caught in the skies of West Virginia in 2016. \u003ccite>(NASA/Bill Ingalls)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>What causes meteor showers?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=id+asc&search=&condition_1=meteor_shower%3Abody_type\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A meteor is a small speck of rock or metal\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that strikes Earth’s atmosphere at speeds measured in tens of miles per second. Friction with the atmosphere quickly heats the pebble-sized grain and it vaporizes in a flash, leaving a brilliant streak behind. Most meteors burn up 40 or 50 miles above Earth’s surface, so those luminous trails can be dozens of miles long. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">meteor \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">shower\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> happens when Earth moves through a cloud of dust\u003c/span>\u003c/a> \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> left behind by a \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=name+asc&search=&condition_1=102%3Aparent_id&condition_2=comet%3Abody_type%3Ailike\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">comet that flew by the sun\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> at some time in the past. When a comet passes close to the sun, solar heating vaporizes ice on the comet’s surface, which then blows off into space to form the familiar comet tail. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1979919\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1979919\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-small.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-small.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-small-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-small-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Astronaut Ron Garan took this image from the International Space Station, featuring a Perseids meteor burning up in Earth’s atmosphere as seen from space. \u003ccite>(NASA/Ron Garan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The comet also sheds dust embedded in its ices, leaving behind a trail. Each year when Earth returns to the same point in its orbit, we pass through the dust trail and enjoy the fiery demise of meteors. Meteor showers are visible in the morning hours because that’s when we’re on the side of the Earth plowing into the dust – kind of like how we only see bugs hit the windshield of a car and not the rear window. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Each different meteor shower throughout the year comes from the dust trail of a different comet. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/109p-swift-tuttle/in-depth/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Perseids’ parent comet is named \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Swift-Tuttle\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, discovered in 1862 independently by Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Swift-Tuttle orbits the sun once every 133 years, and last passed by Earth’s neighborhood in the solar system in 1992.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The Perseids will be most active in the early morning on Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13; the supermoon will be large in the sky, but you can still see the brightest meteors.",
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"description": "The annual Perseids meteor shower has already started and will be its most active in the early morning on Saturday, August 13.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The annual \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Perseid meteor shower\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> will \u003ca href=\"https://www.amsmeteors.org/2022/08/viewing-the-perseid-meteor-shower-in-2022/\">reach its peak\u003c/a> activity in the early mornings on Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13. In the hours leading up to dawn, you could see as many as 50 meteors per hour – almost one a minute – with clear, dark viewing conditions. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The annual Perseids meteor shower in August is \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/perseids/in-depth/\">one of the best and most reliable shooting star shows of the year\u003c/a>. The full moon will be in the sky all night and moonlight will challenge you to see fainter Perseids, but the brighter ones will still be easy to spot. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1968031\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1968031\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"The image shows streaks of light all coming from one area in the dark sky. The streaks fan across the image from left of center in all directions.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/perseids-2009-nasajpl.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Time lapse image taken during the Perseid meteor shower in 2009. When viewing this meteor shower with your eyes, you will usually see only one meteor at a time, about once per minute on average. The time lapse image reveals how the Perseids seem to radiate from a common point, the shower’s “radiant point.” \u003ccite>(NASA/JPL)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u003c/span>\u003cb>Where do I look?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">After midnight, looking to the northeast will face you toward the Perseids’ “radiant point,” the spot in the sky they will streak from. This is in the constellation \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://astrobackyard.com/perseus-constellation/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Perseus\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the shower’s namesake. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Find a good viewing location with a dark sky and a clear view to the east, free of obstructions like hills, trees and buildings. Get comfortable and watch the sky. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Though the meteors will radiate from the vicinity of Perseus, they can flash across any part of the sky. You never know when or where one will appear, so set your sights on the entire scene, just like you would watch a big-screen action film you haven’t seen before. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1979921\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1979921\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-800x531.jpg\" alt=\"A view of a dark blue northeastern sky, with a narrow curve of buildings and trees below. The image shows how the sky will look on the morning of August 12, 2022. The constellations of Ursa Major, Lynx and Orion are barely visible, rising above the horizon, with Aunga and Taurus just above them. Across the middle of the image are Ursa Minor, Camelopardalis and Perseus, the constellation from where the Perseid meteors come. To the right of Perseus, Mars is a bright circle in the sky. At the top of the image are the Cassiopeia, Triangulum and Aries.\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-800x531.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-1020x676.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/Clipboard01.jpg 1244w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of how the northeastern sky will look at 2:00 a.m. on the morning of August 12, featuring the location of the constellation Perseus and the radiant point of the Perseids meteor shower. Mars will shine bright in the east as well. \u003ccite>(Ben Burress - chart made using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Where do I go to see them?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can see the Perseids shower from anywhere with an unobstructed view of the sky, even your own backyard. If you live in a city, the number of falling stars you might catch will be limited by the height of obstacles around you and by light pollution from streetlights, buildings, and cars – so it helps to get away from that if possible. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fortunately \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">there are places around the Bay where you can find relatively dark skies\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> if you’re willing to travel a bit. These include \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=561\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Henry Coe State Park\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in the south bay, Mount Diablo in the east, just about anywhere in the north bay area, and along Skyline Boulevard on the peninsula. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/calendar/perseids-meteor-shower/\">Chabot Space & Science Center\u003c/a> is holding a meteor watching party on its observatory deck, weather permitting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stay safe, check the weather forecast for clear skies, and dress appropriately. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1979920\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1979920\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small.jpg\" alt=\"The image shows a view of the night sky as a circle bounded by trees below and the curve of a lens above. The Milky Way runs bright in white, blue and purple through the center of the image. The streak of a meteor shoots from the center of the image up toward the right.\" width=\"800\" height=\"636\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small-160x127.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/2016perseid-small-768x611.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Perseids meteor caught in the skies of West Virginia in 2016. \u003ccite>(NASA/Bill Ingalls)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>What causes meteor showers?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=id+asc&search=&condition_1=meteor_shower%3Abody_type\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A meteor is a small speck of rock or metal\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that strikes Earth’s atmosphere at speeds measured in tens of miles per second. Friction with the atmosphere quickly heats the pebble-sized grain and it vaporizes in a flash, leaving a brilliant streak behind. Most meteors burn up 40 or 50 miles above Earth’s surface, so those luminous trails can be dozens of miles long. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">meteor \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">shower\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> happens when Earth moves through a cloud of dust\u003c/span>\u003c/a> \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> left behind by a \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=name+asc&search=&condition_1=102%3Aparent_id&condition_2=comet%3Abody_type%3Ailike\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">comet that flew by the sun\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> at some time in the past. When a comet passes close to the sun, solar heating vaporizes ice on the comet’s surface, which then blows off into space to form the familiar comet tail. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1979919\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1979919\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-small.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-small.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-small-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/08/1280px-Swift-Tuttle_Comet_Particles-small-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Astronaut Ron Garan took this image from the International Space Station, featuring a Perseids meteor burning up in Earth’s atmosphere as seen from space. \u003ccite>(NASA/Ron Garan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The comet also sheds dust embedded in its ices, leaving behind a trail. Each year when Earth returns to the same point in its orbit, we pass through the dust trail and enjoy the fiery demise of meteors. Meteor showers are visible in the morning hours because that’s when we’re on the side of the Earth plowing into the dust – kind of like how we only see bugs hit the windshield of a car and not the rear window. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Each different meteor shower throughout the year comes from the dust trail of a different comet. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/109p-swift-tuttle/in-depth/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Perseids’ parent comet is named \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Swift-Tuttle\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, discovered in 1862 independently by Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Swift-Tuttle orbits the sun once every 133 years, and last passed by Earth’s neighborhood in the solar system in 1992.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Here's How to See the Lyrids Meteor Shower Plus a Dramatic Lineup of Planets This Month",
"headTitle": "Here’s How to See the Lyrids Meteor Shower Plus a Dramatic Lineup of Planets This Month | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are you doing between midnight and dawn on April 22? Sleeping? There’s a better option: Watch the annual Lyrids meteor shower, and catch up on sleep later.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the early morning hours of Friday, April 22, especially in the last few hours before dawn, the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/lyrids.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lyrids shower\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> will reach its peak of activity, producing as many as 18 meteors per hour under good viewing conditions and a dark sky. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">That’s one meteor every three minutes.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do you watch the Lyrids?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Meteor watching requires minimal planning.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">First, find a safe viewing location as far from city lights and overhead obstructions as possible. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Second, plan your viewing for after midnight — best in the last hours before dawn. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">And third, bring a snack and a hot beverage, and something comfortable to sit or lie down on.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you live in or around the cities of the Bay, you may have to travel a bit to find a spot shielded from urban lights. Fortunately, the Bay Area is fringed with \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">decent viewing locations\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> protected by surrounding topography — nothing like you can find far out in the country, but better than downtown San Francisco.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1978878\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-scaled.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1978878\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-800x269.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"269\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-800x269.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-1020x343.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-160x54.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-768x259.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-1536x517.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-2048x689.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-1920x646.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Low fog partially blanketing the city lights of Oakland and San Francisco, as seen from Chabot Space and Science Center. Urban light pollution is caused by particles in the atmosphere that reflect city lights back to the ground, interfering with our viewing enjoyment of faint celestial objects, like stars and meteors. \u003ccite>(Carter Roberts)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lyrid meteors streak from a point near the constellation \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://stardate.org/astro-guide/lyra-harp-0\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lyra\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, their namesake. After midnight, Lyra will be high in the eastern sky, marked by the bright star Vega, one of the luminary members of the\u003c/span> \u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/tonight/summer-triangle-predominates-during-the-summer-seaso/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Summer Triangle\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you find your viewing spot, get comfortable and look toward the east. Though the meteors will radiate from the direction of Lyra, their streaks can appear anywhere, so anchor your sight on Vega, but soften your gaze to see as much of the sky as you can. Now, wait for your reward. Seeing even one shooting star is a thrill. Then, wait for another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Lyrids shower also has been known to produce \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.amsmeteors.org/fireballs/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">fireballs\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> — \u003ca href=\"https://omny.fm/shows/kqed-segmented-audio/listening-to-fireballs-the-explosively-brilliant-m\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">exploding meteors\u003c/a> — that look like quick, bright bursts of light. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, the morning of the Lyrids shower offers a dramatic display from the planets in our solar system. You can spot a lineup of Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn, gradually rising around 4:30 to 5:00 a.m., strung out along the southeastern horizon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1978882\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1033px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1978882\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1033\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732.jpg 1033w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732-800x496.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732-1020x632.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732-768x476.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1033px) 100vw, 1033px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">How the southeastern sky will look around 4 a.m. on April 22, 2022, with Lyrid meteors appearing to streak from the radiant point. Also in the sky are the waning gibbous moon and the planets Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn. \u003ccite>(Map made at Chabot Space and Science Center using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The waning gibbous moon will rise around 1 a.m. and climb higher in the eastern sky for the rest of the night. Moonlight will wash out some of the fainter meteors, but won’t prevent you from seeing the brighter ones. \u003c/span>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where do meteors come from?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=id+asc&search=&condition_1=meteor_shower%3Abody_type\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">meteor\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is a tiny bit of space rock or metal incinerated in a flash as it streaks through Earth’s upper atmosphere, at speeds of tens of miles per second. Usually no larger than pebbles, meteors can put on a brilliant light show, sometimes even revealing color — orange, blue or green — depending on composition and temperature.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1978877\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 2471px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1978877\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2471\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-scaled.jpg 2471w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-800x829.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-1020x1057.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-160x166.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-768x796.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-1482x1536.jpg 1482w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-1977x2048.jpg 1977w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-1920x1989.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2471px) 100vw, 2471px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Composite photograph of meteors from the annual Leonids meteor shower, which takes place in November. \u003ccite>(Carter Roberts/Eastbay Astronomical Society)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">meteor shower\u003c/span>\u003c/a> happens when the Earth moves through a trail of dust left behind by the passage of a \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/in-depth/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">comet\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. As Earth slams into the dust trail at its orbital speed of 18 miles per second, the friction vaporizes the dust grains.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">We see meteor showers under morning skies when we’re on the side of the Earth plowing into the comet’s dust trail — inconvenient if you’d like to get a good night’s sleep, but a spectacular show.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The dust trail supplying the Lyrids shower comes from a comet named \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/c-1861-g1-thatcher/in-depth/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">C/1861 G1, or Thatcher\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a “\u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/l/Long-period+Comets#:~:text=Long%2Dperiod%20comets%20have%20orbital,known%20as%20the%20Oort%20Cloud.\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">long-period\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">” comet that orbits the sun every 415 years and last passed by the inner solar system more than 160 years ago. Even so, the dust left behind in its wake persists, and every year when Earth passes through it, we can enjoy the Lyrids shower. \u003c/span>\u003cbr>\n[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Find a dark spot in the predawn of Friday, April 22, and you can watch the annual Lyrids meteor shower flash through the sky over a string of planets. ",
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"description": "Find a dark spot in the predawn of Friday, April 22, and you can watch the annual Lyrids meteor shower flash through the sky over a string of planets. ",
"title": "Here's How to See the Lyrids Meteor Shower Plus a Dramatic Lineup of Planets This Month | KQED",
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"headline": "Here's How to See the Lyrids Meteor Shower Plus a Dramatic Lineup of Planets This Month",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are you doing between midnight and dawn on April 22? Sleeping? There’s a better option: Watch the annual Lyrids meteor shower, and catch up on sleep later.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the early morning hours of Friday, April 22, especially in the last few hours before dawn, the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/lyrids.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lyrids shower\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> will reach its peak of activity, producing as many as 18 meteors per hour under good viewing conditions and a dark sky. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">That’s one meteor every three minutes.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do you watch the Lyrids?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Meteor watching requires minimal planning.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">First, find a safe viewing location as far from city lights and overhead obstructions as possible. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Second, plan your viewing for after midnight — best in the last hours before dawn. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">And third, bring a snack and a hot beverage, and something comfortable to sit or lie down on.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you live in or around the cities of the Bay, you may have to travel a bit to find a spot shielded from urban lights. Fortunately, the Bay Area is fringed with \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/155/dark-secrets\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">decent viewing locations\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> protected by surrounding topography — nothing like you can find far out in the country, but better than downtown San Francisco.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1978878\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-scaled.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1978878\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-800x269.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"269\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-800x269.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-1020x343.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-160x54.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-768x259.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-1536x517.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-2048x689.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/low-fog-1920x646.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Low fog partially blanketing the city lights of Oakland and San Francisco, as seen from Chabot Space and Science Center. Urban light pollution is caused by particles in the atmosphere that reflect city lights back to the ground, interfering with our viewing enjoyment of faint celestial objects, like stars and meteors. \u003ccite>(Carter Roberts)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lyrid meteors streak from a point near the constellation \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://stardate.org/astro-guide/lyra-harp-0\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lyra\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, their namesake. After midnight, Lyra will be high in the eastern sky, marked by the bright star Vega, one of the luminary members of the\u003c/span> \u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/tonight/summer-triangle-predominates-during-the-summer-seaso/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Summer Triangle\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you find your viewing spot, get comfortable and look toward the east. Though the meteors will radiate from the direction of Lyra, their streaks can appear anywhere, so anchor your sight on Vega, but soften your gaze to see as much of the sky as you can. Now, wait for your reward. Seeing even one shooting star is a thrill. Then, wait for another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Lyrids shower also has been known to produce \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.amsmeteors.org/fireballs/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">fireballs\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> — \u003ca href=\"https://omny.fm/shows/kqed-segmented-audio/listening-to-fireballs-the-explosively-brilliant-m\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">exploding meteors\u003c/a> — that look like quick, bright bursts of light. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, the morning of the Lyrids shower offers a dramatic display from the planets in our solar system. You can spot a lineup of Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn, gradually rising around 4:30 to 5:00 a.m., strung out along the southeastern horizon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1978882\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1033px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1978882\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1033\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732.jpg 1033w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732-800x496.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732-1020x632.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/lyrids_shower_radiant-e1648668475732-768x476.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1033px) 100vw, 1033px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">How the southeastern sky will look around 4 a.m. on April 22, 2022, with Lyrid meteors appearing to streak from the radiant point. Also in the sky are the waning gibbous moon and the planets Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn. \u003ccite>(Map made at Chabot Space and Science Center using Stellarium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The waning gibbous moon will rise around 1 a.m. and climb higher in the eastern sky for the rest of the night. Moonlight will wash out some of the fainter meteors, but won’t prevent you from seeing the brighter ones. \u003c/span>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where do meteors come from?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=id+asc&search=&condition_1=meteor_shower%3Abody_type\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">meteor\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is a tiny bit of space rock or metal incinerated in a flash as it streaks through Earth’s upper atmosphere, at speeds of tens of miles per second. Usually no larger than pebbles, meteors can put on a brilliant light show, sometimes even revealing color — orange, blue or green — depending on composition and temperature.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1978877\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 2471px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1978877\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2471\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-scaled.jpg 2471w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-800x829.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-1020x1057.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-160x166.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-768x796.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-1482x1536.jpg 1482w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-1977x2048.jpg 1977w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/03/meteors-leonids-carter-roberts-train1-2126-1920x1989.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2471px) 100vw, 2471px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Composite photograph of meteors from the annual Leonids meteor shower, which takes place in November. \u003ccite>(Carter Roberts/Eastbay Astronomical Society)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">meteor shower\u003c/span>\u003c/a> happens when the Earth moves through a trail of dust left behind by the passage of a \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/in-depth/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">comet\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. As Earth slams into the dust trail at its orbital speed of 18 miles per second, the friction vaporizes the dust grains.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">We see meteor showers under morning skies when we’re on the side of the Earth plowing into the comet’s dust trail — inconvenient if you’d like to get a good night’s sleep, but a spectacular show.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The dust trail supplying the Lyrids shower comes from a comet named \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/comets/c-1861-g1-thatcher/in-depth/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">C/1861 G1, or Thatcher\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a “\u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/l/Long-period+Comets#:~:text=Long%2Dperiod%20comets%20have%20orbital,known%20as%20the%20Oort%20Cloud.\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">long-period\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">” comet that orbits the sun every 415 years and last passed by the inner solar system more than 160 years ago. Even so, the dust left behind in its wake persists, and every year when Earth passes through it, we can enjoy the Lyrids shower. \u003c/span>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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},
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"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
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},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
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