Sun, Nov 22 2009

Perseids meteors pass the Earth

Wed, Aug 12 2009 19:00 CET byRene Beekman 2664 Views 4 Comments
Perseids meteors pass the Earth

A Perseid meteor streaks above the skies of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on August 12 2009.

Photo: Doug Murray

On the nights of August 11 and 12 2009, a prolific meteor shower known as the Perseids, passed the Earth.

The shower is visible from mid-July each year, but the peak in activity, when 60 or more meteors can be seen an hour, is usually mid-August. For 2009, this happened on August 11 and 12.

The meteor shower stretches along the orbit of the Comet Swift-Tuttle, which makes it best visible on the northern hemisphere.

Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office was quoted on the NASA website as saying that "Earth passes through the densest part of the debris stream sometime on August 12. Then, you could see dozens of meteors per hour."

For those who want to try and see some of the meteors tonight, NASA has the following advise: unfold a blanket on a flat patch of ground, the middle of your street is not a good choice. Lie down and look up. Perseids can appear in any part of the sky, their tails all pointing back to the shower's radiant in the constellation Perseus. Get away from city lights if you can.

Comments

Anonymous Joe and Jas Thu, Oct 22 2009 03:09 CET
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Nice picture!

Anonymous sam Thu, Aug 13 2009 23:49 CET
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we was out side late on 11 of aug in dartford when we looked up and there was bright light glowing orange and red at back end going very fast out towards gravesend what was this

Anonymous Paula Thu, Aug 13 2009 18:10 CET
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My son and I set outside for hours watching. It was amazing!!

Anonymous russell king Thu, Aug 13 2009 14:56 CET
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Lovely photo, slept out under the stars in Brittany , france once, years ago. with a girl friend , big rocks and the sea waves crshing , with a supper star shower, this reminded me of that .
Thanks , we had clouds late night ----booo !!. to uk weather

Anonymous Jeff Wed, Aug 12 2009 22:29 CET

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Anonymous Jeff Wed, Aug 12 2009 22:29 CET

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Anonymous Starman Wed, Aug 12 2009 21:54 CET

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Anonymous mamagpie Wed, Aug 12 2009 21:27 CET

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