The Perseids meteor shower peaks from the night of August 12 to the early morning of 13th. Weathernews, a weather information company, introduces the weather and the best observation time zones in each region as "the best observation conditions in Japan this year".
■ What is the "Perseids meteor shower"? The Perseids meteor shower is one of the three major meteor showers along with the Quadrantids meteor shower in January and the Geminids meteor shower in December. It appears every year during the Obon festival, and boasts the number of appearances competing for one or two in a year. According to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, more than 40 meteors can be observed per hour, and under good conditions, a skilled observer can observe more than 80 meteors.
This year's peak is from the evening of August 12th to the early morning of August 13th. Perseus, where the radiant point is located, begins to appear in the northeastern sky around 21:00 and rises high in the sky at midnight, so observations are likely to be good after 21:00 to early morning on the 13th. In particular, it seems that the best chance is from around 24:00 on the 12th to the early morning on the 13th when the moon sets and the moonlight disappears.
■ A wide range of "perfectly visible" areas The weather is a concern when observing. From the night of the 12th to the early morning of the 13th, it is expected to be sunny all over the country and you can enjoy the starry sky over a wide area. The effects of guerrilla thunderstorms are predicted in some parts of the inland area, but it seems that the later the time, the better the weather and the more chances of seeing meteors.
On the Pacific side of Hokkaido, the wind blows from the sea, making it easier for low clouds to spread. Weathernews predicts that the earlier the time, the less clouds there will be and the chances of observation.
■ You can also enjoy it live The 24-hour live program "SOLiVE24" operated by the company broadcasts a special program from 21:00 to 24:00 on the 12th. Live broadcasts from 11 locations nationwide will deliver videos from each region and live comments from local observers. You can watch it on the smartphone app "Weathernews Touch", TV (BS 910ch), YouTube, Nico Nico Live Broadcasting, etc.
There is also a function that delivers a video that captures the moment of the meteor