The Ultimate Guide to Viewing the 2022 Perseid Meteor Shower
Are you a stargazer or just looking for a new hobby to enjoy under the night sky? Then, you’re in luck! The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most spectacular astronomical events that takes place every year during the summer. Even though the peak of the shower has already passed, it’s not too late to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower as it’s visible until the end of August. To fully enjoy the experience, you’ll need a good telescope. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best telescopes for viewing the Perseid meteor shower, and help you choose the one that’s right for you.
What is the Perseid Meteor Shower?
Origin and Naming
The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth colliding with the residual debris from a comet. Astronomers believe that the origin of the meteor shower is in the Perseus constellation, which is where it gets its name from.
When to Watch
You can watch the Perseid meteor shower in the pre-dawn hours for approximately a month and a half, starting in mid-July and ending in late August. The peak of the meteor shower was on the night of August 12th, 2022, but due to a full moon, viewing conditions were not optimal. However, the meteor shower is still visible on most nights, depending on weather conditions and your location.
Telescope Considerations and Features
Types of Telescopes
Aperture
The aperture of a telescope refers to the diameter of the optical lens that collects light. The larger the aperture, the more light the telescope can gather, resulting in brighter and clearer images. For casual viewing, a telescope with a 70-millimeter aperture is sufficient, but experienced stargazers may prefer a larger aperture of over 100 millimeters.
Focal Length
The focal length of a telescope refers to the distance from the primary lens to the spot where light rays converge in focus. The focal length plays a crucial role in determining the magnifying power of the telescope. A short focal length is ideal for viewing star fields and meteor showers, while a longer focal length is better for observing objects such as the moon and planets in greater detail.
The Best Telescopes for the 2022 Perseid Meteor Shower
Affordable Telescopes Under $150 for Beginners and Kids
ToyerBee Astronomical Refractor Telescope:
This telescope has a large 70-millimeter aperture and adjustable magnification power between 15 and 150 times. It comes with removable eyepieces, a Barlow lens, and a wireless camera remote for taking photos of the night sky.
ToyerBee Astronomical Refractor Telescope:
Kiosesi Telescope Astronomical Refractor Telescope:
This affordable telescope offers a long focal length and large aperture, with two eyepieces that can be magnified up to 200 times, an adjustable 360-degree tripod, and a smartphone adapter.
Kiosesi Telescope Astronomical Refractor Telescope:
Celestron Refractor Travel Telescope:
Celestron Refractor Travel Telescope:
This telescope is an excellent choice for anyone who wants an easy-to-use telescope to view the Perseid meteor shower. It has fully-coated glass optics, a 70-millimeter objective lens, and a custom backpack for convenient storage and travel.
Gskyer Astronomical Refracting Telescope for Kids and Beginners:
This telescope offers quality optics thanks to a 400-millimeter focal length and a 70-millimeter aperture. It comes with an adjustable tripod, two eyepieces, a magnifying Barlow lens, a finder scope with a mounting bracket, a smartphone adapter, and a camera remote.
Gskyer Astronomical Refracting Telescope for Kids and Beginners:
Emarth Astronomical Refractor Telescope:
This portable telescope is an affordable and excellent gift idea for young stargazing enthusiasts. It has a high-transmission coated lens for enhanced image and eye protection, and comes with essential accessories including a Barlow lens, an adjustable tripod, and a finder scope.
Emarth Astronomical Refractor Telescope:
Merkmak 90X Refractor Telescope:
This telescope is specifically designed for kids but offers enough magnification power to clearly see the moon’s surface. It has a multi-layered coated lens for improved light transmittance.
Merkmak 90X Refractor Telescope:
Larger Telescopes for More Experienced Viewers
Hexeum Astronomical Portable Refracting Telescope:
This telescope offers an exceptional viewing experience with a 600-millimeter focal length, 80-millimeter aperture, and two eyepieces with 24 times and 60 times magnification.
Hexeum Astronomical Portable Refracting Telescope:
Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescope:
This powerful telescope is compact, portable, and excellent for beginners. It has a German Equatorial mount with a slow-motion altitude rod for smooth scanning and comes with two eyepieces and a Barlow lens for increased magnification power.
Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescope:
Gskyer 80-Millimeter Astronomical Refractor Telescope:
This telescope has a 400-millimeter focal length, an 80-millimeter aperture, and a coated optical glass for eye protection and optimal image brightness. It comes with three replaceable magnification eyepieces, a mounting bracket, and a full-size adjustable tripod.
Gskyer 80-Millimeter Astronomical Refractor Telescope:
High-end Telescopes for Advanced Astronomers and Viewers
Solomark 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope:
This high-end telescope has a sizable 130-millimeter aperture and delivers high-resolution images. It has a carbon fiber cover and comes with a fully-coated glass lens and a German Equatorial mount for precise tracking.
Solomark 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope:
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope:
This high-quality computerized telescope has a tube design, a 200-millimeter aperture, and boasts an impressive light-gathering ability for superior image clarity. It has a fully-automated mount with a database of over 40,000 celestial objects and a single fork arm design for easy storage.
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope:
Celestron Astro
Celestron Astro
