Look To The Skies, Perseid Meteor Shower Expected To Be Good
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- Want to wish upon a shooting star? The skies over the Pittsburgh area are likely to cooperate for a meteor shower overnight Wednesday.
Astronomers say the lack of moonlight will help people see more of the oldest meteor shower known to Earth, the Perseids.
People gathered outside the Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Park for a "Meteor Watch Party" organized by the Amateur Astronomers of Pittsburgh.
"You don't need a telescope, you don't need binoculars, just go where the sky is dark and you need a clear view of the North Eastern sky, no trees in the way," Dan Malerbo at the Carnegie Science Center says.
NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke said the annual show will peak around 3 a.m. local time Thursday, but you can start seeing them after midnight.
Malerbo says we're actually seeing dust particles released from the Comet Swift-Tuttle, and it might surprise you to learn that most shooting stars you will see are actually no bigger than a grain of sand.
"The bigger ones are the size of a golf ball, we'll call them fireballs," says Malerbo.
As to where to look exactly, Malerbo says you can try a trick.
"You hold your fist out to the horizon, that fist equals ten degree. About three fists will be about thirty degrees, so about there," he says.
Cooke said if the weather is good, expect one shooting star a minute, maybe more.
Weather Underground meteorology director Jeff Masters said the skies will be clear for an unusually large section of the U.S.
"It's not often that you get a Perseid Meteor Shower, a new moon and clear weather in Pittsburgh," said Tom Reiland from the Wagman Observatory.
The sky show is pieces of the Comet hitting Earth's atmosphere at more than 133,000 mph and burning up.
The best way to watch: lie down and look up - no telescopes needed.
"It's going to be absolutely spectacular!" said John Wenskovitch of Meadville. "We have no moon. We have clear skies. It can't get any better than this!"
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