Perseid Meteor Shower August 2014: When, Where, and How to Watch Meteors
NASA says the upcoming Perseid meteor shower is one of the best meteor showers that astronomers and stargazers alike can observe, according to reports. With 60 to 100 meteors per hour during its peak in August, it will be hard to miss.
However, 2014 could be an exception for the yearly heavenly spectacle as a "nearly full moon will upstage the show," the space agency added.
The impending supermoon event in August is reported to appear 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter. It is therefore suggested that stargazers can get a better view of the meteor shower when they do it during the weekends.
TimeandDate.com provided additional details on to where, when, and how to better observe the Perseid Meteor shower.
Spectators in the Northern Hemisphere can gain better vantage point, the website pointed out. Without any complicated astronomical calculations, one can look for the "north-east part of the sky and the zenith" and patiently wait for that streak of light to show up. It is also best to position yourself in a location that has a clear, unclouded sky.
In relation to that, astronomers suggest that the best hours to view Perseid is when the sky is in its darkest, which is exactly the time just before dawn.
Talking about special preparations, there isn't really any needed; no necessary special equipment needs to be used as the naked eyes will be enough. Potential stargazers should get away from the city where neon or artificial lights are rampant as these could obstruct the viewing.
You might want to bring along some pieces of blankets or chairs where you can prop yourself comfortably because after all, star gazing can take a while.
