ScienceCasts: Perseid Fireballs

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New research from NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office identifies the Perseids as the "fireball champion" of annual meteor showers. This year's Perseid display peaks on August 12th and 13th.

[@pdhowler]

when I was a kid I spent vacations on Ile-de-Re in France near La Rochelle and we lied down in a star formation, 5-6 friends, heads in the middle of the star, feet pointing in all directions, we each had our respective observation quadrant (or octant?).... between 10pm and to morning twilight, about 6 hours, we counted 360+ shooting stars. Averaging 60 an hour. I didn't see all, neither did my friends, but each saw about 70% of them, collectively we made 360 wishes.... It was AWESOME!

[@menginmt]

It's already started. Watched a few last night. Can't wait for Sunday - Tuesday!

[@lauraavram4936]

I've just seen a few minutes ago a fireball and it was an extraordinary view.

[@IcyEmberz]

They say local time because it is visible at various times across the world. 10:30pm-4:30am is around the time the skies are dark enough to see them clearly, no matter where you are in the world (hence the phrase "local time" being used).

[@philgolding8018]

It means no matter where you are, look at the sky anywhere between 22:30-4:30. It's not "specific" to any time zone.

[@katiahelenalippnissinen1398]

Wow! Hope we can see down here in Southern Brazil.

[@Gamatech123]

Of course, cloud everywhere -.- It's like 3:00am. I'm goin to bed lol

[@nyhub007]

when reporting this please include location, date, and time for those of us who are keeping track. (do you remember what time that was 3 days ago in NY?)
Thanks in advance

[@MultiSkywatch]

those fireballs are waited also here in Finland but the weather looks not very good..:(

[@pdhowler]

I can't think of a reason why you couldn't see fireballs in Philippines. If it comes down, it comes down. If it happens over your heads, and it's bright enough, you can see it. Unless it's all cloudy, but even then it may lite up the cloud layers if as bright as the Moon. We're talking bright ones here, very bright ones. Fireballs on fire

[@swankyswigs21]

I actually saw a fireball for the first time just two or three weeks ago. VERY much different from a "shooting star"...

[@IcyEmberz]

It's that time for everyone.. it's around the time it is dark enough to see...

[@BoxPartyTime]

I camped out and I saw some spectacular fireballs I'm in Ireland

[@Amethyysst]

So excited!!

[@Morganrcb1]

Will you be able to see much on the night of the 10th?

[@Dyslexic-Artist-Theory-on-Time]

Good video! I am looking forward to seeing the Perseid meteor shower!
By the way this is an invitation to see an artist theory of the physics of ‘time’ as a physical process!

[@mahmoud729]

does one of you knows when the meteor shower stopped this last 7 days ? it is very important because all meteor shower should be stopped on unknown day between 28 july and 29 august ??

[@OOOMIXZPIXTZKOOL]

Incoming fireballs Aug 12th and 13th. mark your calendar, best time to look between 10:30pm and 4:30am

[@FireAndLightning]

Saw a few about an hour ago - it was really cool!! :)

[@pentatopComment]

i saw another one last night when i stand alone for an hour on Forthamilton pway 53 st in front of the church. ( but that is not fireball, it just a meteor) around 1 am at night.
and for 3 days ago that fireball was around 1:30pm southwest .
(i am just a noob that love to watch the star i dont even know where is the place to watch them. so hope these information can help)

[@Gauteh94]

"...comets, comments Cook."

[@nyhub007]

nice explanation ;-)

[@eckhardmann1409]

High Sky in the fly! What a great moment! respect.

[@naddielikesoranges]

Yes you will :) i saw some last night!

[@AntifoulAwl]

I'm happy to have any kind of shower.

[@Bromar01]

So the date stated was august 13 at 2 am. Is this the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th or morning of the 13th night of the 12?

[@meenusharma4822]

Amazing

[@spattieball]

Will I be able to see this from Syechelles, as I will be on Honymoon?

[@Weirdandwonderfull19]

Any good times I can see this in the UK? :-)

[@benedictvannieuwenhuyse1011]

They say, "Local Time, around 10,30pm until 04.30 am".
So that counts for USA?
What about Europe?

[@CedarHollowJRT]

I have often seen a better show before the peak dates given...this year may not see a thing due to the smoke from wild fires. The fireballs will be visble but the rest of the show will not happen here in So OR. Good info about veiwing but be sure to check it out before the peak dates!

[@lachlan1971]

I thought it was ram pressure and not friction that caused meteors to heat up.

[@teto57ful]

And Central America is possible to see these fireballs ...?¡¡

[@pentatopComment]

i just saw a fireball from NY Brooklyn !!!

[@ILOVECARTOONable]

Actually Fireballs is not visible in the philippines :(
I wish I could watch it

[@MilitaryGamer83]

Saw a few last night

[@pdhowler]

depends on how bright that moon shines :-)

[@arekwittbrodt]

1:12 - they are heated by friction or air compression?

[@MitchellR]

Il be there

[@Absk.]

Can I see it in New Delhi, India?

[@IcyEmberz]

I didn't know that. Everytime I've used a 24 hour clock for people in countries other than mine they have complained at me saying they use am or pm. (Namely for Americans and Canadians. I am British)

[@daianepinheiro612]

Visible only from the USA?

[@DemonGojyo]

can u see it well from Italy?

[@Retrogamerz1999]

will i be able to see them in england

[@keroberos93]

Can you see it from Malaysia?

[@stanislaw_p]

yes, but make sure you look to northeast

[@arekwittbrodt]

Are you trying to tell me that meteorites heat up by rubbing their hands? ;)
Now seriously. I asked, because I heard that meteorites/space shuttles heat up not because of friction, but actually because air in front of them gets compressed very fast (adiabatic compression).
See for example this:
wiki.answers.com\Q\Why_do_meteors_burn_up
So I am a little bit confused - because the guy from ScienceAtNASA video says otherwise.

[@ivanuseke24]

i seen one .. about 15 sec.

[@Zinn7777]

It can't be seen in the NEW YORK CITY area cause all the lights and all the Chemtrail spray that goes on!

[@stokktudotebe]

some time for everyone :D......

[@stokktudotebe]

just look up at the sky now its not just three days :)

[@PRIVATEAYEIEYE]

Get out in the country with some good company, kick back, and take in the show.
You'll not regret it.

[@Zinn7777]

It can't be seen in NEW YORK CITY sky with all the lights and s

[@MoOoDi78]

what about the Middle East, will i see it?

[@gerardocb]

uh? say again?

[@pdhowler]

yup. rub your hands really fast for a few seconds and don't stop, keep rubbing even faster..... It's just the beginning. ok now stop.

[@PlanetXDecember21212]

Just like Planet X Tail Planet X will be here within less then 450 years when planet x tail goes though are earth it will cause wide spread damage! And are moon will protect earth from some hits thats y so many creator on the moon!

[@EricHathaway]

Jesus loves us!

[@MsMochaNerd]

My boyfriend is taking me out to go see them!!! So romantic!!

[@cortanahalsey796]

First

[@Sampson2012bot]

Perseid=awesome. This narrator=horrible!

[@Retrogamerz1999]

will i be able to see them in england