Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before stepping out into the cold, quiet night.
Do I need a telescope to see meteors?
No. In fact, a telescope will restrict your field of view so much that you will likely miss them entirely. Meteor showers are best viewed with the naked eye.
How does the moon affect viewing?
A full or bright moon acts as natural light pollution, washing out the fainter meteors. The best displays occur during a crescent or new moon phase.
Why is the peak usually after midnight?
After midnight, your location on Earth rotates to face directly into the incoming stream of comet debris, much like bugs hitting the front windshield of a moving car rather than the rear window.
Can meteorites hit the ground during a shower?
It is exceptionally rare. The particles in a shower are usually no bigger than a grain of sand and burn up entirely in the upper atmosphere. Meteors that reach the ground (meteorites) generally come from larger asteroid fragments, not typical comet dust trails.