By Brian Campued
Mark your calendars, astrophiles, as two meteor showers are set to light up our night sky with stunning displays of shooting stars this September.
In its astronomical diary of the month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that up to five meteor showers per hour are expected to be produced during the peak activity of the Epsilon Perseid meteor shower on September 9.
According to PAGASA, the meteor shower has been active since September 5 and will last until September 21.
“The shower can be observed from 9:00 p.m. until about 5:20 a.m., when its radiant point in the constellation Perseus is above the northwestern horizon,” it said.
“The optimal viewing time is around 4:00 a.m. when Perseus is highest in the sky,” the agency added.
Meanwhile, the Daytime Sextantids meteor shower will be visible from September 9 to October 9, with peak activity on September 27.
“In Manila, the shower will be visible from 3:36 a.m. until dawn breaks around 5:21 a.m., when the constellation Sextans, its radiant point, is above the eastern horizon,” PAGASA said.
“The radiant point culminates around 10:00 a.m., producing its best view shortly before dawn,” the state weather bureau added.
PAGASA also noted that meteor-watching during the whole night will not be affected by moonlight, as the Epsilon Perseid meteor shower’s peak activity will occur on a waxing crescent moon, while Daytime Sextantids’ peak activity will occur near the new moon phase.
The agency advised the public to choose a dark observation site under clear and moonless sky conditions since the meteor showers can be viewed without using special equipment like telescopes and binocular. – av
Watch PAGASA’s astronomical diary for September 2024 below:
