Space agency researchers say near perfect viewing conditions will produce dazzling sights from this year’s finest, and most impressive, natural fireworks show.
The show, due to peak later this week, is created from the earth travelling through a river of debris from an ancient comet, which is producing a display of shooting stars called the Perseids.
They say it is called the Perseids because they appear to stream in from the direction of the constellation of Perseus but in fact can appear in any part of the sky.
Nasa experts say the shower, which could a meteor every minute at its peak, is one of the most reliable for astronomers to view.
But this year will be even more spectacular because a new Moon this week means there will be no overpowering moonlight to spoil the show.
This also means star watchers with clear skies can look forward to viewing many of the bright meteor streaks as they burn up in the upper atmosphere after hitting earth at more than 140,000mph.
Scientists say the meteor shower will peak between Wednesday and Saturday with amateur astronomers being able to see up to 100 meteors an hour alone on Thursday night.
The highest rates are likely to be seen in the early hours of Friday morning.
The Earth has already entered the outer regions of the stream of meteoroids, left by a comet called Swift-Tuttle with some observers already reporting sightings.
Read more at The Telegraph
No comments:
Post a Comment