Perseid meteor shower 2023: how and when to see them?

Perseid meteor shower 2023: One of the most anticipated natural spectacles is the Perseid rain (known popularly as the Tears of San Lorenzo) every year. And although it may seem that our planet has no connection to this phenomenon, this is not true.

The shooting stars that we see for a few seconds interact with our atmosphere. In reality, tiny pebbles catch fire when they touch the air, and for this reason, they shine before disintegrating. Only the largest pebbles will reach the ground.

When to see them?

According to the National Geographic Institute (IGN), the optimal time to observe this natural phenomenon will take place during the nights of August 12 and 13. Although several nights before and after those dates will continue to be valid to enjoy the Perseids, the practical absence of the Moon (its brightness is nothing but a source of light pollution) will favor this year's spectacle. It will allow us to contemplate the meteor shower in all its splendor, as long as the sky is not cloudy.

You'll want to look towards the heavens for the best chance at spotting the Perseids on that night. But once the Perseids have peaked, the whole thing will be over just a few days later on Thursday 24 August, following a relatively long build-up to the main event.

Where to observe them?

In order to see this meteor shower, you must get away from cities and other sources of light pollution as artificial light erases the stars from the firmament and considerably reduces their brightness. Unfortunately, if you live in large cities like Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia, you will need to travel a few tens of kilometres to experience a sufficiently dark sky.

However, for medium or small urban centres, just a few kilometres will provide the required conditions. It is not necessary to climb any mountains or access complicated places; having a wide portion of sky above our heads is enough.

What is needed to see them?

The Perseids, like any other meteor shower, cannot be observed with a telescope or binoculars, since the stars appear suddenly out of nowhere and in unpredictable places, and their path barely lasts between one and three seconds. Therefore, all that is needed are our own eyes. Lying comfortably on the ground, or at least sitting down, is the best way to enjoy the Tears of San Lorenzo.

Where do you have to look?

The Perseids are so named because these shooting stars appear to 'come out' of the constellation Perseus. There is the focus in which they originate. But that does not mean that they are more visible there. On the contrary, they can be seen throughout the celestial vault, but they always follow such a direction that they seem to have sprung from Perseus. Therefore, the most practical thing would be to turn your back on Perseus and wait for them to appear before our eyes.

How many stars can be seen per hour?

Before any meteor shower, astronomers always offer a forecast of meteors per hour, that is, the number of shooting stars that can be observed on average every hour. But they are still estimates that are often above reality. It is estimated that this year the Perseids can generate 200 meteors per hour, according to the National Geographic Institute, but even with half that number, the show is guaranteed. It is not a continuous fall of stars, but a very frequent appearance.

What are they exactly?

The Perseids are a shower of shooting stars and, as such, are tiny grains of sand or gravel (although sometimes they can be larger) that enter our atmosphere from outer space. Given the high speed at which they do so, They catch fire and that's why they shine so bright. They go out as soon as they have disintegrated.

This space gravel has been generated by the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the Earth once every 133 years and, on its journey, 'releases' small particles that remain floating in space. Every time the Earth crosses these particles, many of them fall into our atmosphere and generate the Perseids. In other words, what we see shining in the sky are bits of that comet that have been left behind on its journey through space.

Why are they also known as Tears of San Lorenzo?

According to tradition, people celebrate San Lorenzo's festival precisely on August 10. They believe that San Lorenzo was burned alive on a grill as a martyr. For this reason, the Christian tradition interprets the flashes that cross the sky as the saint's incandescent tears during his martyrdom.

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