Everyone with their nose up, to watch the falling stars, Saturday and Sunday at Watamu.
Even on vacation in the "Indian Ocean Pearl" the days following the famous night of San Lorenzo can give emotions, especially in many areas of the tourist resort, light pollution is minimal.
The Perseid's activity lasts for over a month, from July 15 to August 24, and this year the peak of swarm activity will take place in the night between Saturday 12 and Sunday, August 13, from sunset until dawn.
The Perseid phenomenon occurs when the Earth crosses a bundle of debris (powders and ice as small as sand grains but also a few yards) left over by the Swift-Tuttle comet along its orbit around the Sun to make it work 133 years.
Each falling star is therefore a piece of the wake of the comet, which burns due to the friction with the earth's atmosphere.
Observation conditions are discrete and not optimal, mainly because of the moonlight that is in a waning gibbous phase (ie for three full quarters) with 80% illumination.
Obviously, to improve observation, it is best to go to places with the least possible light pollution and in areas with no interference with the sky, because the meteors can come from any direction; Lie down and get comfortable on one of the beautiful beaches, perhaps in good company, as you have to arm a lot of patience and watch the sky while running your eyes without focusing on a specific area of ​​the celestial vault.
Here at Watamu we are definitely benefiting!