# Tonights Meteor Shower, where should I look? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-meteor-shower-where-should-i-look/123487 "2002-08-12T04:40:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-meteor-shower-where-should-i-look/123487/1 "2002-08-12T04:40:49Z")
I think I might acctually stay up for once to see tonights shower. I’m in Ottawa, Ontario (in Canada) (45:25:12N 75:40:12W) and I’m just wonder where my eyes should be looking (I’m not anywhere close to an astronomer). Can someone please point my head in the right direction 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-meteor-shower-where-should-i-look/123487/2 "2002-08-12T04:50:37Z")
Anywhere in the sky. The Perseid shower is so called because the meteors appear to fly from the constellation Perseus. However, it can appear anywhere in the sky with more or less equal probability. Just position your head to maximize the amount of night sky you can see at a time, which probably means lying down and looking straight up. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bad_Astronomer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-meteor-shower-where-should-i-look/123487/3 "2002-08-12T22:49:57Z")
Try these websites: Sky and Telescope: [http://skyandtelescope.com/aboutsky/pressreleases/article\_680\_1.asp](http://skyandtelescope.com/aboutsky/pressreleases/article_680_1.asp) or Astronomy Magazine’s website at [http://www.astronomy.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/000/961duqdq.asp](http://www.astronomy.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/000/961duqdq.asp) For general information about meteors and showers, go to Gary Kronk’s site: [http://comets.amsmeteors.org/](http://comets.amsmeteors.org/) ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-meteor-shower-where-should-i-look/123487/4 "2002-08-13T01:38:21Z")
**scr4** is correct. Also (as you may have heard) after midnight is much better than before midnight. This is because after midnight, the Earth’s night side has turned to face the direction of orbit and is no longer “sheltered”. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-meteor-shower-where-should-i-look/123487/5 "2002-08-13T03:01:28Z")
Might??? Do it! At least once. I’ve seen it a couple of times, and it was worth losing a little sleep, for sure. I won’t watch tonight, 'cause I’m getting too old for that kind of stuff. And I’ve seen it already. Well, I may get up a little early and watch. It’s beautiful, and you can see that from whence you came. 🙂 Get out of the city, if you can. Check out **TBA’s** links first, so you’ll appreciate more what you’re seeing. And don’t use a telescope or anything. Any mountaintops around 45:25:12N 75:40:12W? Go there, or on a vast flat plain with no big trees nearby. Just watch the sky, and you’ll see them. Got a SO? Or a good friend? Share. Did I say “beautiful”? Re-post tomorrow, and tell me what _you_ think. Warning; If you happen to be a fundie christian, seeing this _may_ shake your faith just a little. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-meteor-shower-where-should-i-look/123487/6 "2002-08-13T03:28:44Z")
> [@](#): > > If you happen to be a fundie christian, seeing this may shake your faith just a little. :mad: Eh, you’re out of line there, dude. Many of us believe in God AND in meteors. 'Nuff said, as this ain’t the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-meteor-shower-where-should-i-look/123487/7 "2002-08-13T10:10:27Z")
Are you a fundie? 😛