This week, take advantage of the most beautiful starry nights of the year: the Perseids

From August 9 to 13, take advantage of an exceptional show by admiring the Perseids, usually called "shoot of shooting stars".Here are the best tips to best admire this astronomical show in Andalusia.

Stars in reality meteorite particles

The Perseids, these rain of shooting stars, are actually vestiges of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which measures 26 km in diameter and has an orbit of 135 years around the sun.These meteorites have an average size of a grain of rice, burn 59 kilometers per second, and at a height between eighty and one hundred kilometers, that is to say at the limit of the earthly atmosphere.

The name of Perseids is due to the fact that the meteors come from the constellation of Perseus.They are also known as San Lorenzo tears because this meteor rain is still held after the first week of August, around 10, which is that of San Lorenzo.Some said that the shooting stars that could be observed were associated with tears that the Holy Versa when he was burned on the pyre.

An exceptional celestial meeting

The best time to take advantage of the Perseids is between August 9 and 13, but the D -Day of the shooting stars will be from August 12 to 13, when the most meteors can be seen.This meteor rain is intense and constant and it could offer us, according to NASA, between 50 and 100 meteors per hour.

Frutor with atmospheric gases calcine and spray the meteors that appear shiny during a fraction of a second, forming a drag of light that is commonly called a shooting star.

How to see this rain rain in good conditions?

To optimize your evening as much as possible, plan for several hours to enjoy the show.Indeed, it will take up to 20 minutes in your eyes to adapt to the darkness of the night.Turn off your mobile and all the lively lights.Finally, the use of telescopes is useless.The trace of the shooting star is unpredictable and the speed is monumental.For this reason, the use of a telescope could affect the observation of these phenomena because it reduces the available visual field.

The best spots to admire the Perseids in Andalusia

- Granada province

The Sierra Nevada is the best place to admire the Perseids of all Andalusia due to its height and its zero light pollution.Each year, hundreds of people gather at the Granada ski resort to go up by gondola and climb to the point as high as possible to enjoy the big star of stars.

- Jaen province

The Andalusian astronomy observatory, located in the hamlet of La Perdiz, about seven kilometers from Alcalá La Real, is a good perseid observation spot.You can also go to Cerro de la Nava, near the castle of Locobín.This place is also ideal for spending a magic night from August 12 to 13.

- Province of Almeria

One of the most recommended spots in the province is Calar Alto, although it is also absolutely spectacular to see them from the Gata Cabo Natural Park while listening to the sound of the sea.Other points in the province without light pollution are the Tabernas desert, the Sierra de María or Piedra Lobera.

- Malaga province

To see the Perseids from a more natural place we recommend the Maro cliff, a natural setting located in the town of Nerja.This place allows the visitor to observe the starry sky from some of its belvederes or its beaches

The El Torcal Astronomical Observatory also organizes an activity on August 11, 12 and 13 from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m..Visitors will be immersed in the starry sky, allowing them to see Jupiter and Saturn in real time.The activity costs 12 euros per person (€ 9 for children under 12 and retirees)).For more information, consult the AstrotorCal site

- Cadiz province

In the province of Cadiz, the non -urban area of El Puerto de Santa María or enclaves such as the Los Toruños natural park, the Pinar de la Algaida or the non -urban area of Sanlúcar de Barrameda are recommended to move away fromlight pollution and appreciate the sky.

- Huelva province

You will find an observation point at the astronomical table in the sierra of Santa Bárbara where you can study the main constellations using an explanatory table of the celestial vault.To facilitate your vision, the infrastructure is supplemented by tilting benches.

For a more natural place we recommend the Asperillo cliff, in the Doñana natural park, between Mazagón and Matalascañas with about 28 km from a virgin beach.It is one of the few coastal places ideal to enjoy the night sky.

Cordoba province

The Los Villares park is an essential place to watch the stars.The naturalist expert Noelia Granados and the famous nature photographer Alfonso Roldán will guide the night hiking and Perseid event, myths and legends, which will take place at the Los Villares park reception center on August 11, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. (Registration via the website.)).

North of the province, you can also go to the Los Pedroches reserve, certified Starlight Reserve since 2016.

- Province of Seville

Go to Almaden de la Plata.In this Sevillian city is the fourth largest astronomical observatory in Spain.You can also go to Alanís and Cazalla de la Sierra.These two municipalities of Sierra Norte de Seville have the Starlight Reserve certification and therefore have an ideal framework to contemplate the light of the stars and take advantage of the Perseids.