The Perseids meteor shower is the brightest meteor shower of the year. We can observe it in the sky as the Earth passes through the dense dust trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. Typically, the Perseid shower is 40-60 shooting stars per hour. But this year 2016 will be special - a section of a meteor shower will pass near the Earth, which, thanks to the influence of Jupiter, has moved much closer to the Earth’s orbit than usual. Experts predict that the number of meteors in 2016 may exceed 200 per hour! This means that if we raise our eyes to the sky, we will be able to see from 3 to 5 “shooting stars” every minute. It will be a real shower of stars!

Where and when can you see the Perseids meteor shower in August 2016

The Perseid meteor shower will peak in the evening and night of August 12-13, 2016. The maximum number of particles burning in the atmosphere (more than 200 per hour) can be observed throughout the northern hemisphere from 18 to 20 hours on August 12. So

For those who are a little familiar with astronomy, we recommend finding the constellation Perseus in the sky - it is from this part of the sky that “shooting stars” will rush towards the earth in August 2016. Finding the constellation Perseus is quite easy. To begin with, let’s find the well-known Ursa Major bucket in the sky (in the evenings in August it “hangs” low in the northwestern part of the sky). Next, through the two outermost stars of the Ursa Major bucket, we draw a mental straight line upward, where we find North Star. Let's remember its position in the sky and return to the big bucket, to any star of its handle. Now we draw a mental straight line from any star of the handle of the Ursa Major through the Polar Star and find a constellation similar in shape to the Latin letter W. This is the constellation Cassiopeia, which is adjacent to Perseus. The constellation Perseus itself is located just below.

To observe a starfall, you don’t need any equipment; on the contrary, binoculars reduce your field of view and will only be a hindrance. For observations, you need to find a place located away from bright light sources and giving maximum visibility of the sky.

How to make a wish during a starfall

Shooting stars have always been shrouded in a huge number of different signs and superstitions. Each of us knows from childhood that when a star falls, you must make your deepest wish, and it will certainly come true. Legends that have reached us say that every person in the world has his own star. It lights up in the sky when a person is born, and after his death, it hastens to fall to the ground and go out. At this moment, she fulfills any wish made by a person. Well, the Perseid starfall gives us the opportunity to make even a few wishes on these magical August nights.

So how can you make a wish on a shooting star to make it come true? The first and most important rule is that you need to make a wish alone and not tell anyone what you made. Go out alone to a quiet place, face the east and look at the sky, looking for a shooting star. The most important thing is to notice it, and then say what you have planned to yourself; if you are sure that no one hears your desire, you can do it out loud.

Even now, when science has long explained that a falling star is not a star at all, but just a speck of dust burning in the atmosphere, wishes very often actually come true. After all, for your plan to come true, you just need to think about it correctly and add a little heavenly magic and a lot of faith. Believe in the best omens - and may your good wishes come true!

Perseids 2016: where, when and how to watch the starfall in Russia, astronomers told.

The colorful meteor shower from the Perseid shower is approaching its peak these days, and, according to experts, this year's meteor shower in August 2016 will be almost twice as strong as usual.

Starfall in August 2016 VIDEO

To observe the Perseid meteor shower this night, Senior Researcher at the Pulkovo Observatory Sergei Smirnov said that to observe the Perseid meteor shower on the night of August 12-13, 2016, it is better to go to an open area outside the city, and the optimal time for observation is from midnight to mid-night nights.

“It’s best to look further from the cities, so all summer residents, all tourists, all travelers find themselves in the most advantageous position. Somewhere in the sea, lake waters, in a forest clearing - that’s best provisions. And in the city we see the beauty of urbanization,” Life quotes the expert.

According to the scientist, residents of Moscow, Voronezh and Crimea have more opportunities to see starfall due to longer and darker nights compared to the northern regions. Although the weather in St. Petersburg is now clear, residents of the city will also be able to enjoy the grandiose spectacle.

“The situation has changed due to previous approaches of the meteor ring with large planets. The clot that reaches us at the end of July and throughout August has changed its orientation towards a greater number of particle collisions,” the astronomer said.

In the coming August nights, residents of the entire Northern Hemisphere of the Earth will experience “star showers” ​​from the constellation Perseus

The peak activity of the Perseid meteor shower occurs on August 12-13, on this night the number of meteors reaches 100 per hour, but in 2016, according to IMO (International Meteor Organization) forecasts, up to 150 meteors per hour are expected, reports the website of the Science and Life magazine.

As the publication points out, there are several reasons for the increased activity. First, the Earth will cross a dense portion of the Perseid shower, which has been displaced into Earth's orbit by the influence of Jupiter. Jupiter exerted a gravitational influence on the cometary debris, pushing the Perseid shower a little closer to Earth's orbit. Such a surge in Perseid activity, caused by the influence of Jupiter, occurs once every 11-12 years.

Secondly, the Earth will approach two trails of the Perseid progenitor comet, which were ejected by it in 1862 and 1479. This will cause two bursts of maximum Perseid activity. The first, caused by the trail of comet 1862, is expected on August 12 at 01:34 Moscow time, the second on August 12 at 02:23 Moscow time, it is caused by the trail of comet 1479.

“The Perseid meteor shower has been known to mankind for about two thousand years. The first mention of them is contained in Chinese historical annals dating back to 36 AD, when “more than a hundred meteors flashed in the morning.” It is officially believed that the discoverer of the annual Perseid meteor shower is the Belgian mathematician, astronomer, and meteorologist Adolphe Ketele, who reported this spectacle in August 1835. The number of meteors exploding each hour was first calculated in 1839. The maximum number of meteors in one hour then was 160,” says astronomer and employee of the Moscow Planetarium Lyudmila Koshman.

The Perseids are caused by the Earth passing through a plume of dust particles released by Comet Swift-Tuttle. The comet takes 133 years to complete its orbit. Each time, approaching the Sun as close as possible, the comet melts, due to which the number of cometary particles in its trail increases. Accordingly, the years closest to this event delight earthly observers with a sharp increase in the number of “falling stars”. The name Perseids comes from the name of the constellation Perseus, from which, if you look closely, these “shooting stars” fly out. The area where meteors emerge is called the radiant of a meteor shower.

Astronomers remind you that no astronomical instruments are needed to observe a meteor shower - anyone can enjoy the night star spectacle of summer. The Perseids are white meteors that streak across the sky. The glow of some particularly bright meteors lasts up to several seconds.

The Perseid starfall makes wishes come true!

Look up at the night sky and you might see one of the most epic and brightest starfalls in recent years! The “hero” of the occasion is the Perseid meteor shower. Weather permitting, you can watch the starfall every night until August 22, 2016. However, expect the peak from August 12 to 13. Astronomers say that this night the sky will be illuminated by a real shower of stars... it's time to make magic!

Starfall of wishes

What will be your reaction to a falling star? Wish! And for the second? Wish! And on the twelfth? Wish! And on the twenty-second? ... Oh, I would have dried up after the first ten. And why all? Many different wants lead to a big confusion. Just as you “dream” of everything, then you yourself won’t understand what it was. There is neither confidence in the fulfillment of desires, nor an inner feeling that now it will definitely come true. What should I do?

Make one wish! Sit back comfortably and admire the stars. Turn each star into a magical meditation on one dream. For example, a star - “I love and am loved”, another star - “we are so happy together”, another star - “I melt from his kisses”, another star - “we talk about everything in the world!” and so on. Enjoy the dream, immerse yourself in it. And give its embodiment to the falling stars...

By the way, while the Perseid is in the sky, another night you can work your magic again on this or another dream.

Money starfall

Let everything that falls from the sky fall into our hands and... bring money, big and small. Well, it can easily be applied to starfall. Did you see that a star fell? We place our palm and three pockets, saying: “To the money!” Did you see another one? The second pocket was rubbed.

Believe me, money will suddenly materialize in your reality very soon!

Victorious Sandals

Have you read ancient Greek myths? If not, then you’ve definitely heard about Zeus. So Perseus is his son. It seems that astronomers were delighted by the feat of Perseus (he rid the world of Medusa the Gorgon) and they named an entire constellation in his honor. Yes, we are talking about the very constellation Perseus, from which the Perseids are already visible.

Do you know what detail I remember most from his feat? Winged sandals! There, of course, he had another magical arsenal, but if he had not had sandals, he would not have defeated the Gorgon. So maybe this is exactly what we need?

In general, if you need to win at anything (competition, interview, exam, etc.), charge your sandals!

Fortunately, it’s summer, which means there shouldn’t be any problems with sandals. It is very important that they are yours, and old or new, floral or plain - it doesn’t matter.

On any night of the Perseids starfall, tie a thread (rope, lace) to each sandal and hang them by these threads on the same clothesline (beam, branch, etc.) on the balcony (outdoors). And say: “Perseus has won and I win!” Let your sandals absorb this magical winged effect until the morning.

To activate the magic for yourself, be sure to wear and walk around in your “winged” sandals the next day. At the same time, mentally replay your victory in your head for at least a few minutes. For example, you can imagine how you passed an exam or successfully passed an interview. And then boldly go “to battle” (you can “go there” in any other shoes).

Useful information: According to experts, it can take about 30 minutes for human eyes to adjust to darkness. Therefore, if you don’t see anything, then you need time to “calibrate”, that is, look at the sky and wait.

Anastasia Volkova for the site