How to look at shooting stars

The most suitable environmental conditions

The first thing to do is check the weather forecast and the moon's condition. Clear skies, with good weather, are certainly preferable for stargazing than cloudy skies, even if only intermittently. As for the moon,a full one, the days in which it shines they are not the best for the observation of the location. The full moon is in fact the second brightest object in the sky and therefore eliminates the brightness and visibility of the stars.

The time

The most favorable time is definitely around dawn, provided the weather is on your side and favorable. So, Wake-up calls During the night, and no complaints: it's not a wasted effort. Generally, the best time is from 22 pm onwards, with peak hours between midnight and 4 am.

With the naked eye

Shooting stars are best admired with the naked eye: no binoculars or telescopes, which limit your field of view. Stop for 15-20 minutes in the dark before starting to watch the show: this will allow your eyes to adjust to the unique experience.

Far from cities and inhabited centers

In order to see as many shooting stars as possible and as best as possible, it is necessary to move away from inhabited places and especially from cities.light pollution, in fact, is the worst enemy of shooting stars, and of the wishes entrusted to them. Also avoid buildings, mountains, and trees that limit the view and prefer high-altitude areas, where clean air and less turbulence improve the visibility of shooting stars. 

Turn off your smartphone

While observing shooting stars, the smartphone simply needs to be turned offIt only creates disturbance, annoyance, and unnecessary distractions. In this case, technology breaks the spell of silence combined with sight, of an absolutism of the image. Also avoid photos and selfies: If you want to try your hand at photography, it's best to take a specific excursion and have a camera suitable for taking this type of image.

It takes patience to watch shooting stars

Don't pretend to catch some shooting star at the first shot: have the patience What's needed? And keep in mind that the eye needs time to adapt to this type of image and vision.

Night of San Lorenzo

The Night of San Lorenzo, August 10, is considered the moment of maximum visibility of shooting stars, and in particular between 10 am and 15 pm, when the Earth's orbit around the Sun intercepts the swarm of debris left by the comet Swift Tuttle. In reality, the phenomenon continues for days to come, and the eye must look for the Perseids, known as the “tears of San Lorenzo”. that is, a meteor shower, periodic and visible from Earth even to the naked eye.

How to make a wish

A curious fact lies in the tradition of making a wish at the sight of a shooting star. First of all, the etymology of the word "wish" comes from Latin, where "de siderum" means "on the stars." Wishing upon the stars was also a common practice among sailors who, in addition to compasses, oriented themselves by the constellations: at the sight of a shooting star, they expressed the desire to reach their destination on dry land. Furthermore, the role of the shooting star as a guide is also well-known in Christian tradition, where a shooting star showed the Magi the way to the cave with Baby Jesus.

We are all "children of the stars"

Ultimately, we can all consider ourselves "children of the stars," as humans have always wondered about stars, meteors, and nebulae, seeking to read messages and clues about our lives—past, present, and future. And in ancient times, the approval of astrologers was continually required for practically everything. 

Negative meanings of shooting stars in ancient times

In ancient times, there were also traditions that assigned a negative meaning to shooting stars. In Sparta, for example, the sky was scrutinized, with the utmost attention, every nine years: if a shooting star appeared, considered a harbinger of misfortune, the king was deposed. In ancient Persia, shooting stars were also considered a sign of impending trouble. And for the Chinese, shooting stars they meant the possible fall of a ruler.

Read also:

• Why it's good to look at the stars
• Dark Sky: The Movement Fighting Light Pollution
• Full Moon: What It Looks Like with the Naked Eye