Exhibition of perseids
2002/08/09 Elhuyar Zientzia
Every year, the meteor shower generated by Perseide occurs during some days of August. This year the show will be in the sky this weekend (day 10-12). However, these spectacular lights are not real stars.
On the contrary, they are meteorites ceded by comet Swift-Tuttle. In its orbit, this comet approaches the Sun every 120 years and goes further than Jupiter. On this trip small meteorites are scattered, which are also appreciated from Earth when it is near where the comet has passed. Then, the meteorites fall to Earth and the clash with the atmosphere causes the rain of stars. Seen from Earth, the rain of stars is near the constellation of Perseus, so the Perseids are called argions.
Good show with weather.
