Comments on: When is the best time to view the Perseids Meteor Shower in 2009?

By: Meteor

Meteor — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:13:35 +0000

Universal Time (UT) is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) scientists use Universal Time. The shower is peaking at approximately 17:44 UT on August 12th. A common misunderstanding is that Meteor Showers are considered nighttime events when in fact they are usually better seen in the morning. Let’s say you are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) or UTC-4 which is the time for New York right now, the shower would peak for you at 1:44 PM on August 12th therefore leading up to the peak, the morning of August 12th when it is dark will be closer to the peak than Thursday morning. Remember the example is for East Coast USA Residents and the shower will remain active for a while and then become less strong until August 24th.

Please look at the meteor shower viewing page in the upper right hand corner to further help you.

In conclusion you will be able to view stronger meteor activity in the morning and if you observe at times closer to the peak when skies are darkest before dawn.

Hope this helps and keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

By: Anna Gaston

Anna Gaston — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:46:47 +0000

Now I, too, am confused about the time. I live on east coast Canada. We had planned on going to our trailer Wed night, for a Thursday a.m. (12:01 midnight) viewing. I am now hearing that we should go tonight, Tuesday. But that doesn’t jive with the 1 day 6 hrs you mention.
I don’t know what UT really means.

By: Meteor

Meteor — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:11:33 +0000

Tina, Here is a countdown to the Universal Time of the possible peak. For most people living in the USA the closest time to the peak without daylight falls between 12:01 AM and sunrise on Wednesday August 12th. For people living in time zones where it will be light out during the peak they can use the countdown clock. Choose a time when it is dark outside closest to the peak for best results. The peak will be around 17:44 Universal Time on August 12th which is represented by the gray clock above. Hope this helps, keep your head up! - Meteor Mark

By: Tina

Tina — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:55:09 +0000

hi. quick question. is this midnight the night of the 11th? or midnight the night of the 12th?? I’m sort of confused..but don’t worry becuase I get confused easily. haha. so please clarify for me? email or something?? thanks !

By: CShaw

CShaw — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:02:39 +0000

Maybe it is starting. I saw a big one north central Illinois 10 August 09 between 8 and 9pm. I was driving south bound and it came from high in the East sky, started white and changed to blue and then broke up unto many smaller pieces. It was blazing across the sky from East to West and after breaking into several small pieces, some changed toward the yellow and red colors. The largest one was real close and as it got closer to the ground it again blasted into thousands of small parts, most disintegrated in the air but a few big chunks may have hit the ground, there was a bright flash and some glowing debris ejected upward about two miles from the road I was on so I can only guess something hit the ground. I drove over to see if I could find it and I don’t care to elaborate on what I found until I can look at it in the daylight tomorrow. It was a beautiful shower of light that makes many fireworks displays seem insignificant in comparison and I will remember it as long as I live