The best time to observe the 2012 Perseid meteor shower in Davis, California, USA

According to the forecast of the International Meteor Organization (IMO), the peak time of the 2012 Perseid meteor shower will occur between 20:00 and 22:30 on August 12, Beijing time. Converted to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, = Beijing time -15 hours) in Davis, California, it is between 05:00 and 07:30 on August 12.

However, the maximum time of the meteor shower is by no means equal to the observation time. The observation time in Davis, California is from 23:00 on August 11th to before dawn on August 12th, Pacific Daylight Time, and before dawn on August 12th from 23:00 to 13th. If the weather is clear and the light pollution is small, you can see it all night, and in the middle of the night optimal! (Before 23:00, due to the low radiant point, the number of meteors is small or impossible to encounter)

When choosing an observation location, choose a place with light pollution, preferably in an open space. You can choose a place in advance on a clear night where you can see many and dense stars. At that time, Perseus will be located in the northeast, but the possibility of meteors appearing in every position in the sky is similar. The direction does not matter. The chance of seeing meteors at the zenith is greater. It’s best to lie down in an open place and watch.

In addition, there will be the Geminid meteor shower (140 meteors per hour under ideal conditions) on the night of December 13-14 this year, and the viewing conditions are better than the Perseid meteor shower.

Final friendly reminder: Be sure to pay attention to various safety issues. Please consider the weather factors yourself.

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