The Perseid meteor shower is expected to offer a spectacular display under moonless skies when it peaks tonight, Wednesday, 12 August, with several events planned in Cyprus’ mountain areas.
Cyprus Astronomy Society President and astrophysicist Chrysanthos Fakas and AstroVerce Astronomy Club founder Sotiris Savvides spoke to CNA about the phenomenon and events in Kyperounta and Amiantos, while the Troodos Observatory also announced activities marking the peak.
Fakas described the Perseids as one of the most impressive annual meteor showers, saying that this year they “are expected to be spectacular because of the moonless sky.”
He invited the public to attend an astronomy night in Kyperounta, organised by the Cyprus Astronomy Society (ASTREK), the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) and the Fakas Observatory, in cooperation with the Community Council.
The event will begin at 9pm in the courtyard of Ayios Arsenios church. Visitors are advised to bring warm clothing and a blanket, while talks will also be held and people with telescopes and cameras are welcome to bring their equipment.
Fakas also referred to the total solar eclipse taking place on the same day, which will not be visible from Cyprus but from parts of western Europe. He said the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, causing total darkness for more than two minutes in areas along the path of totality, along with a drop in temperature.
Meanwhile, Savvides told CNA that the AstroVerce Astronomy Club, in cooperation with the Cyprus Planetarium and with permission from the Department of Forests, is organising an astronomy night at the Amiantos Astropark.
“The phenomenon peaks on August 12 and people may be able to see more than 100 meteors per hour, which is something exciting,” he said, urging visitors to arrive from 7pm.
Seven telescopes will be available, while at 8.30pm organisers will give a presentation on the night sky and constellations. Visitors wishing to photograph the Perseids are also welcome.
Savvides advised visitors to bring warm clothes, chairs, food and drinks, stressing that lighting fires is strictly prohibited and no waste should be left behind.
The Nightsky Explorers Club is also holding an event at the Amiantos Astropark from 8pm, offering visitors the chance to observe the Perseids, planets, stars and other celestial objects through telescopes. Visitors may also bring sleeping bags or tents if they wish to spend the night at the site.
The Troodos Observatory said the meteor shower will peak from Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday, 13 August, with up to 100 meteors per hour potentially visible under ideal conditions.
“This year the phenomenon coincides with the New Moon, leaving the night sky completely moonless and increasing the chances of observing even faint meteors,” it said.
Free stargazing will also be available from 8pm on Wednesday at the observatory in Agridia.
The observatory added that the all-sky camera installed at the SPICA Observatory in Prodromos will stream live images of the night sky every evening at www.cosmos.cy/allsky
It also urged visitors to respect the natural environment and avoid all forms of pollution, particularly the lighting of fires.
A Perseid night will also be held at the Kampos Astropark, near the Kampos Forest Heritage Museum, from 9pm, while the Larnaca Photography Club is organising an astrophotography outing at the Prodromos reservoir in Troodos from 9.30pm, open to anyone interested in the night sky and photography.
(Photo by Brocken Inaglory - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2632873)
(Source: CNA)
