This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33850710
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Perseids: Meteor light show set to dazzle | Perseids: Meteor light show set to dazzle |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Skywatchers are in for a dazzling display as the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on Wednesday. | Skywatchers are in for a dazzling display as the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on Wednesday. |
| For the first time since 2007, the shower will coincide with a new moon - making viewing conditions particularly favourable, weather permitting. | For the first time since 2007, the shower will coincide with a new moon - making viewing conditions particularly favourable, weather permitting. |
| At the peak, expected after 23:00 (local time), as many as 100 meteors may be seen every hour. | |
| The Perseids are pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle; each August, the Earth passes through a cloud of the comet's debris. | The Perseids are pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle; each August, the Earth passes through a cloud of the comet's debris. |
| Swift-Tuttle shed this material long ago, and it is now distributed as a tenuous "river of rubble" along the comet's orbit around the Sun. | Swift-Tuttle shed this material long ago, and it is now distributed as a tenuous "river of rubble" along the comet's orbit around the Sun. |
| These particles of ice and dust (which range from the size of a grain of sand to around as big as a pea) hit the Earth's atmosphere at about 60km/s (37 miles/s). | These particles of ice and dust (which range from the size of a grain of sand to around as big as a pea) hit the Earth's atmosphere at about 60km/s (37 miles/s). |
| As they do so, they heat the air around them, causing the characteristic streak of light seen from the ground. | As they do so, they heat the air around them, causing the characteristic streak of light seen from the ground. |
| From the ground, this shower of meteors appears to originate from a single point, called a "radiant", in the constellation of Perseus - hence the name. | From the ground, this shower of meteors appears to originate from a single point, called a "radiant", in the constellation of Perseus - hence the name. |
| The shower is active each year from around 17 July to 24 August, although for most of that period only a few meteors an hour are visible. | The shower is active each year from around 17 July to 24 August, although for most of that period only a few meteors an hour are visible. |
| Prime viewing hours are from about 23:00 (local time) on 12 August until the morning of 13 August. | Prime viewing hours are from about 23:00 (local time) on 12 August until the morning of 13 August. |
| Prof Mark Bailey, the director of Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland, said the Perseids were "one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year". | Prof Mark Bailey, the director of Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland, said the Perseids were "one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year". |
| Alan MacRobert, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, added: "The nearly moonless sky this year means the viewing will be excellent." | Alan MacRobert, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, added: "The nearly moonless sky this year means the viewing will be excellent." |
| This is when the shower's "radiant," its perspective point of origin, is high up in the sky. The higher the radiant, the more meteors appear all over the sky. | This is when the shower's "radiant," its perspective point of origin, is high up in the sky. The higher the radiant, the more meteors appear all over the sky. |
| For most people, meteor showers will be best viewed with the naked eye. Meteor observers advise finding a dark location away from artificial light and an unobstructed view of the sky. | For most people, meteor showers will be best viewed with the naked eye. Meteor observers advise finding a dark location away from artificial light and an unobstructed view of the sky. |
| Reclining chairs or blankets are best for looking up at the sky in comfort. | Reclining chairs or blankets are best for looking up at the sky in comfort. |
| Although the number of visible meteors is hard to predict accurately, at least one every few minutes is expected. | Although the number of visible meteors is hard to predict accurately, at least one every few minutes is expected. |
| Will you be watching the sky for this year's Perseid meteor light show? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories and pictures. | Will you be watching the sky for this year's Perseid meteor light show? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories and pictures. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |