This year, the skies over the Canary Islands have been selected as the perfect stage to witness the highly anticipated meteor shower of the summer: the Perseids, famously known as the “Tears of Saint Lawrence.” The peak of this spectacle is expected between 01.00 and 02.45 hours UT (02.00 – 03.45 in the Canary Islands) on 14 August.
As part of the Energy Efficiency Laboratories (EELabs) project coordinated by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the sky-live.tv channel will broadcast the Perseids’ maximum on the night of 12-13 August from the Canary Islands Observatories.
The Teide Observatory (Tenerife) and the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (Garafía, La Palma) will be the vantage points from which the sky-live.tv channel captures the stunning Perseids shower.
Throughout mid-July to the end of August, the Perseids will grace the night skies, with the best nights for observing their activity in Europe being between 11 and 14 August.
The Sky-Live.tv channel will commence its live broadcast on the night of 12 August at 21.50 UT (22.50 in the Canary Islands) through its YouTube channel and social media platforms.
ORIGIN OF THE PERSEIDS
Shooting stars, in essence, are tiny dust particles dislodged from comets or asteroids as they orbit the Sun, explains the IAC. In the case of the Perseids, they originate from the Swift-Tuttle comet, discovered in 1862, which happens to be the largest object that periodically approaches the Earth, measuring approximately 26 kilometers in diameter.
However, the Perseids derive their name from the constellation Perseus, as they seem to emanate from the point in the sky where this constellation is situated.
To enjoy the most awaited meteor shower of the summer, it is essential to find a location with clear skies, far from light pollution. Midnight is the ideal time to observe, as the constellation of Perseus will be at its zenith (directly above the observer’s location).
Be patient, advises the IAC, as it is recommended to find a comfortable position and wear warm clothing to observe the same point in the sky for about 15 minutes. During this time, under optimal conditions, you can expect to witness between 20 and 25 meteors.
