Ivey's Blog

Don’t Miss a Stellar Show

11 August 2016:Postcards from the Park
Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid meteor shower, one of the most stunning celestial events in the astronomer’s calendar, is set to give visitors to Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park a spectacular show.

This year is set to be one of the biggest meteor showers in some time.  While the shower of shooting stars officially started on 17 July and runs until 24 August, it will peak this weekend and the weather forecast looks promising. The peak of the shower will take place between 11th August & 13th August.

Astronomer Bill Cooke from NASA’s Meteoroid Environments Office said, this year, forecasters have predicted a Perseid outburst with double normal rates. Under perfect conditions, we could be treated to up to a whopping 200 meteors every hour!

What is the Perseid meteor shower?

Named after the Perseus constellation, which is the point from which they appear to come from in the night sky, the meteors are pieces of debris from the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle.

As these chunks of celestial rock fall from space through the Earth’s atmosphere, they appear as bright streaks of light zipping across the sky.

When is the best time to see the Perseid meteor shower?

The good news is that the best place to spot the Perseids is in the Northern hemisphere. The bad news is those wishing to catch a glimpse of the shooting stars will have to either stay up late or get up extremely early. The best time to spot the display is between 1am and before the onset of dawn twilight.

Stargazers should allow around 20 minutes for their eyes to become accustomed to the dark.

Where is the best place to see the Perseid meteor shower?

The darker the location, the better, so if you’re staying with us this weekend, you are in for a real treat! If you’re elsewhere, you should aim for vantage points away from the light pollution of towns and cites.

It may take a while to see any shooting stars as they tend to appear in clusters, followed by a lull, so patience is key.

Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park