Meteor Shower Viewing Tips for Everyone: Practical Guide

Meteor showers are amazing astronomical phenomena. You can fully observe the meteor shower when you know the tips below.

Meteor showers are amazing astronomical phenomena. You can fully observe the meteor shower when you know the tips below.

Know the peak moment

Typically, meteor showers last for days as Earth is exposed to a large stream of icy particles in space. These particles are debris left behind by comets. So, the peak is when Earth is expected to be exposed to the largest number of comet particles.

And here's the catch: meteor showers peak at the same time for everyone on Earth. Time zones, meanwhile, vary from country to country, so you'll often need to adjust UTC to local time where you live.

That said, predictions aren't always accurate. And remember, you can see stunning meteor displays hours—even days—before or after the predicted peak.

Remember that meteor showers are a part of nature. So they are often impossible to predict with absolute precision.

Meteor shower viewing locations

You need a wide, open, dark view of the night sky. A farmer's field? A country road? A campsite with clear views in one or more directions? All are suitable because a clear sky increases the chance of seeing meteors.

During a meteor shower, the bright moon is not your friend. In fact, nothing can dampen the effects of a meteor shower more effectively than a bright moon.

If there is the appearance of the moon

If the moon is out, look at the sky beyond it. Anything in the moon's vicinity—including shooting stars—will likely be overshadowed by its glare. Alternatively, to see meteors in the moonlight: put something between you and the moon. Watching from the shadow of a barn, a car, or even a tree can help you see more meteors. Basically, put yourself somewhere in the moon's shadow.

Know the expected speed

Meteor shower charts almost always list what is known as the zenith hourly rate (ZHR) for each meteor shower.

So, ZHR is the number of meteors you would see if you were observing from a very dark sky, with bright lights overhead, when the shower is at its peak. In other words, ZHR represents the number of meteors you could see per hour under the best viewing conditions during the shower's peak.

If peak occurs when it's still light out at your location, if most of the meteors are faint, if there's a bright moon, or if you're in an area with light pollution, the total number of meteors you'll see will be significantly reduced.

Don't worry too much about the bright spots.

You don't have to stare in one direction all night long—or even spot a bright spot—to enjoy the shower. Meteors will appear all over the sky.

But while you can see meteors flying above the horizon before their bright spots appear, you'll see more of them after the shower has begun. And you'll see the most when the bright spots are highest in the sky. So learn when the bright spots appear to determine the best time of night to watch the shower.

Watch the meteor shower for an hour or more

Meteor showers are best viewed after you let your eyes adjust to the darkness. This can take up to 20 minutes. Also, meteors tend to appear in bursts, followed by periods of calm. Be patient! You should see some impressive meteor showers.