Skip to content
Vatican Observatory
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Tours
    • Castel Gandolfo
    • U.S.
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
  • Shop
  • Calendar
    • View our Event Calendar
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
    • VO in the News
    • Press Kit
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Tours
    • Castel Gandolfo
    • U.S.
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
  • Shop
  • Calendar
    • View our Event Calendar
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
    • VO in the News
    • Press Kit
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact

21 Precious Perseids viewing pleasure

By Deirdre Kelleghan  |  15 Aug 2017

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email
A naked eye drawing of the Milky Way with one perseid flying through the nightsky from n Persei to a Cyg . Drawn from Co Cork Ireland by Deirdre Kelleghan August 17th/18th 2010 , pastels and gel pen on black paper A naked eye drawing of the Milky Way with one Perseid flying through the night-sky from n Persei to a Cyg . Drawn from Co Cork Ireland by Deirdre Kelleghan August 17th/18th 2010 , pastels and gel pen on black paper

My observing location for the 2017 Perseids was flanked toward the east by a large stony hill. Towards the west  the Atlantic Ocean and to both the south and north by fields of sheep. All week the forecast was less than favourable. It was a treat to have a relatively clear sky. Between local time 22:40 ( 21:40UT) and 23:35 ( 22:35UT) I observed 19 beautiful Perseids. Two white ones to start then a stunning blue mag 3 which spanned the width of Ursa Major. The vast majority were white with the occasional dim red Perseid zipping in from the direction of Perseus. Several of the white variety matched magnitudes of 2 + similar in brightness to many ISS passes. Some of them entered directly overhead, they spurted and spluttered their smoky trails just in case they were not noticed.

On this occasion, I did not create a drawing, but simply enjoyed watching the show. The Milky way became increasingly visible as my eyes adapted to the darkness. Only the occasional headlight from a distant road or the sounds of sheep baaing in the darkness entered my beautiful silence. The knotted clouds of stars in our galaxy was clearly spilt, Vega was high, Ursa Major totally dominated the western sky.

The winter ahead would not be compromised by the suns position. On moonless nights, the milky way will find itself drawn on my page once again.

Just before midnight, I noticed the almost last quarter moon developing a glow over the hill announcing its impending presence. I retired inside for tea and a warm up, it was cold for August. On my return, high cirrus clouds surrounded the moon in folded lines. These creased clouds looked stretched, as the moon peeped over the hill.  The moon seemed to have embedded itself in them as it rose, ice crystals in our atmosphere added to the drama by producing a vivid rouge moon halo. The natural folds in these gossamer clouds streamed outward from our rocky satellite echoing in a visual way the forthcoming manifestation of the solar corona in a total eclipse.

I stood between the rising moon and the sun only slightly below the western horizon. The oranges and lemons of sunset still lingering over the ocean. Wispy clouds lit by the suns twice reflected light gathered to hide all but the brightest meteors. A wish for just one more was granted with two beautiful 30-degree Perseids one through Ursa Major and one directly overhead. 21 Perseids while viewing for pleasure was delightful. Meteor s offer the opportunity to be sharply aware of our atmosphere. That 300-mile bubble of gas that protects us from space debris and also gives us a planet on which we can live and breathe for all our lives.

More meteor showers for your pleasure:
Next meteor showers to watch out for are the Draconids October 7th and 8th 2017 ( nightfall and evening) and the Orionids on October 20th ( best before dawn)

Time and Date more information for your country on Meteor showers and other data

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

Sacred Space Astronomy

The Vatican Observatory’s official digital community and online magazine.

Become a Member

Recent Posts

From the Vatican Observatory Faith and Science pages (Younger Readers) — Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas

By Faith and Science  |  21 May 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Visit of Br. Guy Consolmagno S.J.

Pluscarden Abbey  |  19 May 2025  |  Press

The Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas, Realities, and Science

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  17 May 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

From the Backyard: Pope Leo XIV, Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum and AI

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  12 May 2025

Archives

      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • August
      • June
      • March
      • January
      • November
      • October
      • December
      • November
      • April
      • May
      • January
      • December
      • September
      • May
      • March
      • December
      • November
      • February

More Posts by
Deirdre Kelleghan

Crescent Moon and the Pleiades meet up

By Deirdre Kelleghan  |  7 Apr 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Earth Focus

By Deirdre Kelleghan  |  16 Feb 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Islands on a sea of gas

By Deirdre Kelleghan  |  8 Feb 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Orion Nebulae all over the classrooms

By Deirdre Kelleghan  |  27 Nov 2024  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Last Naked Eye View of C/2023 A3(Tsuchinshan ATLAS)

By Deirdre Kelleghan  |  8 Nov 2024  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan ATLAS)

By Deirdre Kelleghan  |  21 Oct 2024  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

View More

Newsletter

Upcoming astronomical events, scientific breakthroughs, philosophical reflections… just a few reasons to subscribe to our newsletter!

Vatican Observatory
  • About
  • Telescopes
  • Tours
  • Latest
  • Podcast
  • Education
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Donate
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
Privacy Policy  |   Cookie Policy  |   Disclosure Statement  |   This website is supported by the Vatican Observatory Foundation

Podcast:

  • Apple Podcasts Listen onApple Podcasts
  • Spotify Listen onSpotify
  • Google Podcasts Listen onGoogle Podcasts
  • Stitcher Listen onStitcher
  • Amazon Alexa Listen onAmazon Alexa
  • TuneIn Listen onTuneIn
Made by Longbeard