How to Watch a Meteor Shower

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Uploaded by on May 23, 2011

When a comet orbits the sun, it sheds a stream of debris. Meteor showers are caused when the Earth travels through the stream left behind by the comets, and the debris burns up in the atmosphere. Here's how to watch one.

To complete this how-to, you will need:

Chairs
Blankets
Bug spray
Food
Drinks
Flashlight
Secluded spot
Knowledge of when the meteor showers occur
Red-filtered flashlight (optional)
Location of the Little Dipper (optional)

Step 1: Pack your car

Pack your car with chairs, blankets, bug spray, food, drinks, and a flashlight. Bring along everything you need to be comfortable while watching the meteor shower.

Use a red-filtered flashlight that won't affect your night vision.

Step 2: Drive away from the lights

Drive away from the lights of the city. Meteor showers are named for the constellation they appear to be coming from so you'll want to drive in the direction of the constellation.

Step 3: Find a secluded spot

Find a secluded spot where it is dark enough and no car headlights can interfere with watching the meteor shower. State and city parks are a good place for viewing meteors.

Adjust your eyes to the dark by trying to spot each star of the Little Dipper.

Step 4: Wait until an hour before sunrise

Wait until an hour or so before the sun rises to see the meteor shower. The morning side of the Earth gets more meteors than the evening side.

Step 5: Learn the major meteor showers

Learn when the major meteor showers occur. The Quadrantids are January 3rd, the Lyrids are April 21st, the Eta Aquarids are May 4th, the Delta Aquarids are July 28th, the Perseids are August 12th, the Orionids are November 3rd to the 13th, the Leonids are November 17th, the Geminids are December 13th, and the Ursids are December 21st.

Step 6: Watch meteor showers any night

Know that you can see meteors any night of the year, not just during the major meteor showers. The best month for spotting meteors is November. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

The most brilliant meteor shower ever recorded was the Leonids meteor shower on November 12th and 13th in 1833, where at one point over 8,000 meteors fell over Boston in 15 minutes.

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Top Comments

  • You kidding me?

    How's this.

    1 open your eyes.

    2 look up. At night.

    3 realize this video was useless.

  • 1) have eyes.

see all

All Comments (23)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • This is too hard

  • after that have sex ;p

  • drive in the direction of the constellation? LOL

  • I think I lost a percent of my brain function by looking at this video...

  • How to find the most useless video ever fast:

    Step 1: Open your browser

    Step 2: Go to youtube.com

    Step 3:Click on "How to Watch a Meteor Shower"

  • You will need:

    To be conscious

    Vision

    A way to get outside

    Optional:

    Patience

    Interest

  • its july 27!

  • You will need

    To believe in stupid videos

  • How to watch a meteor shower:

    Step 1: Look up

    Done.

  • oh damn, i dont have knowledge about and meteor showers. Guess i will have to sit at night on the grass and hope one will come.

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