Photo: Fernando Rodrigues / Unsplash
The Perseids is the most popular meteor shower of the summer and probably of the year. Although its activity began last 17 July, the peak of this cosmic show will be between 11 Y 13 August this year, as reported by Earthsky.org.
Those days will see the highest rate of meteors per hour, which in previous years have been between 150 to 200 per hour. The only concern for astronomers and hobbyists is the brightness of the Moon, which can make it difficult to see.
The Perseids are best seen from the Northern Hemisphere and all you need to see them is to sit in a comfortable place in the dark looking north and have patience. According to Space.com, the best time to search for shooting stars is before sunrise.
What causes the Perseids
They are called Perseids because they come from the constellation of Perseus. This phenomenon happens every year and is caused by Comet Swift-Tuttle , the largest object that repeatedly passes “Close” to Earth. It measures 16 miles and its orbit will approach the planet in the year 2126. Meanwhile, the dust and debris of this celestial body causes the beautiful annual spectacle.
Meteorites occur when the Earth’s orbit passes through the stream of dust or trail that leaves a comet, in the case of the Perseids, the aforementioned Swift-Tuttle. When they hit the planet’s atmosphere, the friction of the air causes its particles to heat up and burn, resulting in the beautiful shooting stars.
experts explain that it takes the human eye about 30 minutes to adapt to the darkness, so the longer we stay at night, the more likely we are to see the meteor shower. It is expected to happen between 60 and 70 hourly meteors .
Why “Tears of San Lorenzo”?
It is known as “Tears of San Lorenzo” because its peak regularly coincides with the Catholic holiday that remembers this saint the 10 of August. Christian tradition tells that Saint Lawrence was burned alive on a grill in Rome . Legend has it that her tears are the shooting stars seen in the sky.
The Perseids of 2021 will be better than in years earlier this because the New Moon occurred just on August 8 , so their brightness will not prevent you from seeing them on summer nights.
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