Annual Perseid Meteor Shower to be Live-Streamed by Virtual Telescope Project
Astronomy enthusiasts around the world can witness the annual Perseid meteor shower from the comfort of their own homes this year. The Virtual Telescope Project, based in Manciano, Italy, will offer a live stream of the celestial event using its all-sky camera.
Gianluca Masi, the founder and astronomer of the Virtual Telescope Project, expressed excitement about covering the Perseid meteor shower. “This year, the sky conditions will be good, with almost no moon interference. We will be taking images from our facility in Manciano, in the Maremma countryside, under one of the darkest skies in Italy,” Masi said.
The live stream will begin at 9:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, coinciding with the peak of the meteor shower. The free online broadcast can be accessed on the Space.com website, the Virtual Telescope Project’s WebTV page, or their YouTube channel.
The Perseid meteor shower is active from July 17 to August 24 and is known for its impressive displays of up to 100 meteors per hour, including bright fireballs and shooting stars. It derives its name from the constellation Perseus, as the meteors appear to originate from this point in the sky.
The meteor shower is a result of Earth passing through a cloud of debris left by the Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. These debris fragments enter Earth’s atmosphere at incredibly high speeds, causing the air in front of them to heat up and create spectacular displays.
For those eager to observe the Perseid meteor shower in person, guides on the best telescopes and binoculars are available to aid in viewing. Additionally, tips on photographing meteor showers and recommendations for cameras and lenses suited for astrophotography can be found.
Furthermore, Space.com encourages readers to share their photographs of the Perseid meteor shower by emailing them to [email protected]. The images, along with the photographer’s name and location, may be featured on the website.
Don’t miss out on the Perseid meteor shower this weekend! Tune in to the Virtual Telescope Project’s live stream and marvel at the wonders of the universe from the comfort of your own home.