“Stars out tonight as Perseid meteor shower peaks, though rain could spoil the party - Pioneer Press” plus 2 more |
- Stars out tonight as Perseid meteor shower peaks, though rain could spoil the party - Pioneer Press
- Perseid meteor shower peak visibility tonight in Birmingham area - Everything Alabama Blog
- Perseid Meteor Shower Draws Desert Fans - KESQ News
| Stars out tonight as Perseid meteor shower peaks, though rain could spoil the party - Pioneer Press Posted: 12 Aug 2010 04:35 PM PDT There will be "star parties" across the Midwest tonight as the Perseid Meteor Shower reaches its nightlong peak. Generated as the Earth passes through the debris-laden path of the comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseid shower was named after the Perseus constellation, from which the meteors appear to originate. It is one of the most well-known and reliable showers on record, with shooting stars seen every year and generally peaking in mid-August. The Perseid shower is generally seen in the northern hemisphere, and best viewed in the pre-dawn hours. This year's peak is slated for tonight; as many as 60 comets an hour have been seen during previous peaks. But the weather in the Twin Cities metro area may not cooperate with viewings. According to the National Weather Service, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, though the bulk of them are not predicted to come until after midnight. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Perseid meteor shower peak visibility tonight in Birmingham area - Everything Alabama Blog Posted: 12 Aug 2010 07:23 AM PDT Published: Thursday, August 12, 2010, 9:30 AMA free, late-night light show should get started around 10 Thursday night -- about 56 miles overhead. The Perseids meteor shower peaks this evening with sky watchers expecting an above-average show that should last into dawn. Meteor showers occur when the Earth plows through comet dust that intersects its orbit. Fine particles less than an inch wide slam into the atmosphere at 125,000 mph, emitting bright streaks of light. Many meteor showers are hampered by a bright moon washing out the night sky. Not tonight. The moon should be below the horizon by 10 p.m., said Bill Cooke of the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. The streaks of light will appear to radiate from the Perseus constellation in the northeast sky. But Cooke has a better way to get oriented. "Lie flat on your back and look up," Cooke said. About a streak per minute is expected, Cooke said. Comet Swift-Tuttle dumped the tiny debris that makes up the Perseids meteor shower along its 133-year orbit that travels around the sun and crosses Earth's orbit. The comet was first discovered during the Civil War and made its last pass in 1993. Meteor showers also don't require special optics or observatories. Just a little patience. Still, clear skies would help. Some particles started hitting the atmosphere as early as July 30. Cooke identified one Perseids particle on Aug. 2 at 12:46 a.m. 68 miles over south of Mountain Brook. It traveled 15 miles southwest before burning up at 58 miles overhead, north of the Jefferson County line. Sightings are expected for another nine days. Despite the expansive debris trail, Cooke said it all burns up miles above. "You don't have to worry about being whacked on the head," he said. STARS FALL ON ALABAMA WHAT: Perseids meteor shower. WHEN: Peak visibility from about 10 p.m. today until dawn. ORIENTATION: Meteors appear to radiate from the Perseus constellation in the northeast sky. Contact Patrick Hickerson at phickerson@bhamnews.com
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| Perseid Meteor Shower Draws Desert Fans - KESQ News Posted: 13 Aug 2010 10:00 AM PDT PALM DESERT -- Star-gazers had their eyes glued to the sky overnight Thursday for one of the most stunning meteor showers of the year, the Perseid Meteor Shower.Astronomers were expecting to see between 60 and 100 meteors each hour between midnight and around 4 in the morning.Click here for more information on where to look for the Perseid Meteor Shower in the sky The meteor shower is made of debris from the Swift-Tuttle Comet burning up in the Earth's atmosphere, creating a meteor shower in the northern hemisphere.People around the desert stayed up late last night to watch the eye candy.The shower is visible in mid-July each year, but the peak activity usually falls between August 9 and 14 depending on the particular location of the stream.This year's viewing was made even more spectacular by the crescent moon, which made it darker for people to see the meteors.The Perseid Meteor Shower has been observed for about 2,000 years. Copyright 2010 KESQ. All rights reserved. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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