WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 33morning, so work commitments may limit the number
of people who actually view the shower.
For many amateur astronomers, one of the best
things about the Perseids comes from getting together
with like-minded friends for fun under the stars. Few
astronomical viewing sessions promise the drama of a
brilliant fireball (a meteor that casts a shadow) or
bolide (an exploding meteor), but meteor showers can
feature such events. You’ll know real excitement if you
experience a bright meteor with a group of people.
While shooting
the setting Moon
from Pensacola
Beach, Florida, this
photographer captured
what he describes as
“probably the luckiest
shot of my life” on
August 2, 2017, at 2 A.M.
EDT. He used a Nikon
D90 with an 18mm
lens at f/3.5 to take a
15-second exposure at
ISO 2500. AUSTIN HOUSERThis photographer
imaged all night August
11/ 12 , 2 016 , f r o m
Joshua Tree National
Park in California.
He used a Canon
60Da with a Rokinon
24mm f/1.4 lens set
at f/2. All exposures
were for 15 seconds
at ISO 6400. MICHAEL KRYPEL