My students are mesmerized by outer space and astronomy. One of the most spectacular displays in astronomy is a meteor shower and it’s a wonderful way to instill awe in aspiring scientists. These "shooting stars" are not really stars at all but rather tiny pieces of space debris, usually no bigger than a grain of sand, that enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and burn up, creating bright streaks of light.
When I teach space science, I always notice how my students get asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteorites confused, so let's break it down real quick. Asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteorites are all space rocks, but they differ in composition, location, and what happens when they interact with Earth's atmosphere.
Asteroids are primarily rocky and metallic and orbit the Sun, mainly in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Comets are icy bodies, also orbiting the Sun, but they originate from the outer solar system and as they approach the Sun, they leave behind a trail of dust and small rocks. When Earth’s orbit intersects with this debris, the particles enter our atmosphere and burn up, creating a meteor shower. Meteors are meteoroids that burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, creating a streak of light (shooting star). If a meteor survives the atmospheric burn and impacts the Earth's surface, it's called a meteorite. Below is my FREE anchor chart and coloring pages describing the differences between these space rocks.
The Perseid meteor shower is associated with Comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 133 years.The Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus because that is the direction from which they appear to come from in the sky. The Perseid meteor shower happens every year between July and August. This year, in 2024, we’re planning to watch The Perseids around August 11th – 13th. It’s one of the most famous and most watched meteor showers because it’s known for producing a high number of bright meteors.
Watching the Perseids is easy and fun way to help your young astronomers experience the brilliance of a meteor shower. Make sure to find a dark spot for viewing. Light pollution from cities can hinder your view of the meteors. Find a dark spot away from city lights, such as a park, countryside, mountain, or a beach. Your eyes need about 20-30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. If you need lighting, try to use red lights as they don’t impact the rods in they eyes so they don’t take as long to readjust to the dark.
Clear skies are essential for a good viewing experience. Check the weather forecast and try to pick a night when the sky will be clear. The Perseids typically last 3 days so you can try to plan the best night for viewing. Bring a blanket, reclining chair, or sleeping bag to lie back and look up comfortably. Stargazing for an extended period can strain your neck if you’re standing. Give yourself plenty of time to watch and enjoy the show. While the meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, you don’t need to focus on one part of the sky. Look up and take in as much of the sky as possible for the best chance to see meteors.
I hope you can take advantage of this incredible phenomenon and see some meteors this August. Check out our Perseid activity packet below to help turn this exciting event into an opportunity for learning. If you're not able to go out and view the Perseids, they happen every year, so there's always another chance to see this beautiful show!
