2023-08-12 18:30:46
The Perseids, also known as the Tears of Saint Lawrence, take place every summer between July 17 and August 24. However, this year is special since we have a unique opportunity to see them in an extraordinary way. This is because the low luminosity of the Moon will allow the Perseids to stand out more strongly in the sky.
Pablo Pérez González, an astrophysicist belonging to the CSIC’s Center for Astrobiology, explains that “the Moon will be in its waning quarter on that date, so 2023 will be very propitious to see the great summer meteor shower”.
This year, according to information from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the tears of San Lorenzo can be seen especially at dawn from August 12 to 13.
The Perseids correspond to the night of the year in which we can observe the greatest number of shooting stars, which is why, according to the astrophysicist Javier Armentia, “there are people who expect a continuous downpour.” Even so, “the correct attitude to see them is to be surprised, those few that you manage to see at the moment you look at the sky are already wonderful,” adds Armentia.
The little luminosity of the Moon that will reach the northern hemisphere will cause greater darkness in the sky and will allow the light reflected by the Perseids to be seen better from Spain than in other years.
what are perseids
The Perseids are a meteor shower from Comet 10P/Swift-Tuttle, which sheds dust particles and rock fragments from its tail as it approaches the Sun. As Earth passes through this cloud of debris, the particles they begin to disintegrate upon contact with the atmosphere, generating luminous trails commonly known as shooting stars.
The Perseids are so named because the place in the sky they seem to come from is in the constellation Perseus.
Recommendations to see the perseids
Among the main recommendations to be able to enjoy the Perseids is that of patience. You will need to adjust to the dark, avoiding the use of bright lights or electronic devices to allow your eyes to adjust, and patiently looking up at the sky in the direction of the constellation Perseus.
In turn, it is recommended that you prepare basic equipment in advance in order to enjoy the experience even more. It is not necessary that you have professional equipment such as telescopes or binoculars, but some blankets or chairs will help you stay comfortable while looking up at the sky.
Best locations to see the perseids
The best places to see the Perseids are all those that do not have a high load of light pollution, so we should look for spaces away from the city, high light noise and traffic.
The ideal areas to enjoy the meteor shower are parks far from areas with lots of light, the countryside or the mountains, among others. If you are in Madrid, we recommend the Sierra or the Parque de las Siete Tetas or also called Cerro del Tío Pío.
In turn, if you have the opportunity, Spain has some great observatories, national and astronomical parks where you can witness this astronomical event:
Teide National Park in Tenerife. The island is of great interest for lovers of astronomy. In fact, the Teide Observatory is located there, the most important in Spain. Prades Mountains Astronomical Park, in Tarragona. The conditions of the night sky in Prades make it an ideal place to observe astronomical phenomena.Montsec Astronomical Park in Lleida. This area has ideal conditions for observing the meteor shower. In fact, the objective for which it was created was to promote research, training and dissemination of science. This astronomical center is also made up of the Universe Observation Center. Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory, in Teruel. It was built by the Center for the Study of Physics of the Cosmos of Aragon (CEFCA) to carry out mapping (raising and drawing the geographical map of an area of the earth’s surface). And it is in a space with little light contamination. Royal Observatory of Madrid. This center investigates, analyzes and records objects, events and situations of a natural, astronomical or social nature. Yebes Observatory, in Guadalajara. The observatory is managed by the Yebes Astronomical Center, a unit of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) dedicated to the development and construction of instrumentation in the field of radio astronomy.
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