Tag Archives: shower

When it comes to meteor showers, the Perseids pop. It’s not just about the quantity of meteors (as many as 100 per hour) and their showy quality (fireballs!) but also their superb timing. The annual shower hits its peak on warm, laid-back August nights as the Earth crosses paths with the dust cloud left by comet Swift-Tuttle on its every-133-years …

A meteor streaks across the sky during the 2021 Perseid meteor shower. Bill Ingalls/NASA hide caption toggle caption Bill Ingalls/NASA A ritual of summer is gazing up at the night sky in the hopes of seeing meteors, also known as shooting stars, flash across the night sky. While the annual Perseid meteor shower usually gets the most attention, a better …

Stargazers will have plenty of opportunities to see some meteors streaking across the night sky during the next two weeks. Three different summer meteor showers — including the highly touted Perseid meteor shower — are currently active. And the best is yet to come, because the Perseid meteors will be reaching their peak rate of activity in the coming weeks. …

Star trails captured at Cyclops Rock in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Hannah Schwalbe via NPS. Grab your binoculars and get your telescope ready as the Perseids are back! This dazzling meteor shower, known for its intensity and high visibility, is set to take over the night skies and fill your summer nights with magic. The Perseid meteor shower …

In recent days, you may have seen articles claiming the “best meteor shower of the year” is about to start. Unfortunately, the hype is overblown – particularly for observers in Australia and New Zealand. The shower in question is the Perseids, one of the “big three” – the strongest annual meteor showers. Peaking in the middle of the northern summer, …

peak on July 29. The Southern Delta Aquariid shower is active from July 18 to Aug. 12, as Earth passes through a trail of ancient debris that is suspected to have been shed by the 4-mile-wide (6.4 km) comet 96P Machholz. When this debris hits Earth’s atmosphere, the friction created by air molecules causes the particles to ignite, creating the …

Each week, Prudence asks readers for their thoughts on the letters she’s received. Her reply will be available every Friday only for Slate Plus members. Hey Prudence, Re That Was Weird: Maybe the letter writer’s friend had a lot of early miscarriages, and won’t believe the pregnancy is “real” until there’s a healthy baby in her arms that she gets to take home. …

One of this year’s most spectacular celestial events, the Perseid meteor shower, is expected to give an unforgettable performance. The Perseid meteor shower will light up the sky across the U.S. from mid-July to late August. During peak visibility on Aug. 12, the shower produces an average of 100 meteors per hour. According to Space.com, the best time to see …

Each summer, amateur astronomers from all over the world look forward to observing the famous Perseid meteor shower, but often overlook four lesser showers that reach their peak between July 29 and Aug. 16. This year, a waning gibbous moon three days past full moon phase will seriously hamper the Perseid meteor shower, so why not take this opportunity to …

The Perseids, often considered one of the best and biggest meteor showers of the year, is on deck to start soon. Each summer, it lasts for weeks and hits its peak in mid-August. The Perseids are active from around July 17 to Aug. 23. They come at the perfect time of year for backyard viewing – no telescopes needed! They’re …