Taipei Astronomical Museum

The year's most anticipated Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak on Thursday, August 13, under nearly moonless skies, providing excellent observing conditions. To celebrate the event, the Taipei Astronomical Museum will host a live Perseid Meteor Shower webcast from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, featuring invited guests discussing fascinating facts and stories about meteors. In addition to the Perseids, August also offers outstanding opportunities to observe the inner planets, with Mercury at greatest western elongation, Venus at greatest eastern elongation, and a Mercury–Jupiter conjunction, making this a spectacular month for skywatchers.The highlight of August is undoubtedly the Perseid meteor shower, one of the three major annual meteor showers. It is expected to peak during the morning of August 13, with a predicted Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) of up to 100 meteors per hour, while observers under good conditions can realistically expect to see around 70 meteors per hour. The shower's radiant rises at approximately 8:30 p.m. on August 12, and the best viewing period lasts until dawn on August 13, with meteor activity increasing after midnight. Perseid meteors are known for their high speed, relatively bright appearance, and frequent fireballs. Since the Moon will be near the new moon, there will be virtually no moonlight interference, creating exceptionally dark skies and increasing the chances of spotting even fainter meteors. The Museum recommends finding a location with an unobstructed view of the sky and simply watching with the naked eye to enjoy the spectacle of meteors streaking across the night sky.August is also an excellent month for observing the inner planets, Mercury and Venus. On Sunday, August 2, Mercury reaches its second greatest western elongation of the year, standing 19.5 degrees from the Sun. Around this date, Mercury, shining at magnitude 0.2, can be found low above the eastern horizon before sunrise. Then, on Saturday, August 15, Venus reaches its only greatest eastern elongation of the year, shining brilliantly at magnitude –4.5 and standing 45.9 degrees from the Sun, making it the best opportunity of the year to observe the dazzling planet. During evening twilight, observers can enjoy the striking sight of Venus paired with a slender crescent Moon in the western sky. Before dawn on Sunday, August 16, Mercury and Jupiter will also appear in conjunction, separated by only about 0.5 degrees above the east-northeastern horizon.For more information about August's celestial events and the Perseid Meteor Shower live webcast, please visit the Taipei Astronomical Museum website.

Join energetic Shorty, intelligent Indigo, and daring sawfish Jake on a colorful coral reef adventure! After a fishing trawler devastates their reef, three fish have no choice but to set out on a quest to find a new home. They hope to find the “Enchanted Reef” — a mythical underwater haven free from humans. As they search the sea for a legendary reef, the friends encounter a variety of intriguing environments, from kelp forests to sunken wrecks — and even outer space! Their unforgettable journey brings them face-to-face with an octopus, dolphins, anglerfish, and other exotic creatures. Throughout their adventure, they must avoid hungry sharks, hazardous pollution, and other dangers, as they seek a reef that may be a myth.Legend of the Enchanted Reef is filled with humor and imagination that the whole family will enjoy. This touching animated fulldome show combines entertainment and education with an important message about the impact of ocean pollution.Screening dates: April 3, 115 to April 2, 116Running time: Approximately 45 minutes

Join showman extraordinaire "The Great Schiaparelli" as he takes the audience on a death-defying space-time adventure within his wondrous Observatorium.From the sun-scorched surface of Mercury to the icy expanses of Pluto and beyond, prepare to be subjected to the myriad dangers and wonders of our Solar System, on a breathtaking tour that reveals just how precious our home planet really is.Be warned though, the Observatorium isn’t just for show. It will transport the audience right to the heart of some of the deadliest locations in our slice of the heavens. It’s going to take some fancy flying to get everyone back in one piece!Screening Dates: January 1 to December 31, 115Running Time: Approximately 26 minutesBilingual Language: English (headphone)