Peek at the Perseids (Friday 15th)

Probably the best known meteors, or shooting stars, are the Perseids. Named after the constellation Perseus - where the point they radiate from in the sky is. Come try and spot some with us, date to be confirmed once weather more certain.

Sunset from ~9pm, so we congregate at the meet point pub til then and by the time we're heading to a darker spot on the common it's nearly dark enough to spot a few stars - and as the evening draws on, hopefully meteors.

At the peak there can be up to 150 shooting stars per hour, so it doesn't take too long (even in moonlit London skies with only the brightest of them visible) to see one - assuming we're not clouded out. Expect to spot low double digit numbers for a full session at the best though. The comet Swift-Tuttle and its shed debris is believed to be responsible for this meteor shower.

If we're lucky we might even see a fireball (a particularly big and bright one, sometimes with different colours, trails). If weather is likely to be awesome for a while I might even run another in a different location within a few days? (show your interest for extra locations/days in the comments for this event? the shower peak is 2-3 days long but will be some meteors from it up to 2 weeks before/after).

Schedule:
* We'll meet outside the Rose and Crown pub - on a table, if we can. I should be on time or shortly after but have been known to get delayed so pick a spot and maybe comment/message that you're there and waiting if you haven't spotted us/me. I might be en route still.
* If you're reasonably on time there might be time for a quick drink, but we'll hang around for a crowd of us to gather before heading out, talk space/astronomy stuff and just be social.
* Sunset is ~8.24pm, so it starts getting dark enough soon after 9pm
* When we're ready (maybe ~9pm or a little later) we head out to Tooting common, across the road.

We'll either aim for diagonally opposite, or (better) near the cricket pitch off of Dr. Johnson Avenue (if we're all ready to walk ~10mins) - the darker spot with better viewing - where we've gone in several past years. There's a car park at the south (Tooting) end of the avenue.

* The Perseids rise around 9:15 (in the North-East). It will be dark enough for stars from shortly after then (but the later the better, in fact if you want to stay up at home after we finish or any other day this weekend after midnight you might see more).
* Watching for meteors until we get too cold/tired/its too late/we feel done enough. Don't forget to check your route home and last tube/train/bus times as appropriate!

Late?
If you might arrive later, either watch for updates in comments here, take your chances finding us on the common, or else make sure you have my phone no. (see "how to find us" location details). Be patient if you comment/telephone, sending an SMS as backup can help instead of leaving a voice message/as well as a Meetup comment (others might also spot event comments and help out).

Bring:
No optical equipment needed! But plan for:

• an extra clothing layer (all experienced stargazers will strongly recommend this, even on really warm days; standing/lying on wide open ground for longer periods, you will notice any breeze/cooler air more than usual)
• optionally, a reclining chair(s)/blankets(preferably slightly waterproof) to lie on and save your neck.
• Eyes - the best tools to see meteors with. Only bring telescopes/binoculars if you want to look at other things or get practice but you won't see shooting stars through them (unless very lucky, even then just as a flash); you'll end up missing more while looking through them.
• maybe a (ideally red) torch - but try not to blind us with that or your phone's screen. Night vision adjustment takes several minutes but is instantly ruined for all around you by a bright white light
• cameras if you like (for astrophotography attempts to catch meteors, relies on luck and you really need to be able to leave it taking repeated shots automatically for a long period, a remote-release with lock and a tripod can help)
• optionally planispheres or reference books or smartphones with sky map apps for looking at other objects - again, please try to avoid blinding us/yourself and ruining our built-up night-vision with bright screen lights.

Bring an extra (thin?) layer if you want to stay very late, it will get much cooler even given the current heat - especially lying down and not moving much in a wide open space. Many beginners learn this quickly after they realise it's colder than they thought (better to be prepared than have a miserable time)! I say it twice 'cos it's the most regretted missed choice by newcomers on anything less than a 30°+ C day.

Meteor spotting is best either lying on the ground (or picnic rugs/mats), or maybe on a seat (e.g. lawnchair) if you bring one - a reclining back and neck support is better.

Feel free to moon-watch/bring 'scopes to see other things, or cameras with long-exposure capability, though the focus will be on meteors (shooting stars) which telescopes aren't useful for. The moon rises ~ 10:30pm, drowning out some meteors (this is why I've gone for the weekend after the peak, trying to get more time in darker skies; but weather may push it a day or two, do check back!).

Tips:
Absolutely no prior experience required at all to see them, we'll help you identify the difference between meteors and satellites/planes.

This meteor shower is so active that you can see them almost anywhere in the sky (and until sunrise too, if you're a very early riser), so look for the clearest area of sky - not necessarily just to the North East.