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 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Perseids: Meteor shower captured across UK skies | Perseids: Meteor shower captured across UK skies |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Stargazers captured the dazzling display of the annual Perseid meteor shower as it reached its peak on Wednesday night. | Stargazers captured the dazzling display of the annual Perseid meteor shower as it reached its peak on Wednesday night. |
| The display was widely anticipated this year as the shower coincided with a new moon for the first time since 2007, creating a darkened sky. | The display was widely anticipated this year as the shower coincided with a new moon for the first time since 2007, creating a darkened sky. |
| People in the Midlands and the north of England had the best view of the meteor shower. | People in the Midlands and the north of England had the best view of the meteor shower. |
| Cloud cover spoilt visibility for some parts of southern England and Scotland. | Cloud cover spoilt visibility for some parts of southern England and Scotland. |
| Comet Swift-Tuttle | Comet Swift-Tuttle |
| The Perseids - which are pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle - are 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 Perseids - which are pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle - are 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 peak came overnight on Wednesday, with more than 100 meteors an hour produced. | The peak came overnight on Wednesday, with more than 100 meteors an hour produced. |
| The peak of the display occurs when the shower's "radiant" - the point from which the meteors appear to originate - is highest in the sky. | The peak of the display occurs when the shower's "radiant" - the point from which the meteors appear to originate - is highest in the sky. |
| Prof Mark Bailey, 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, director of Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland, said the Perseids were "one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year". |
| Robin Scagell, vice president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: "The thing about shooting stars is they're a wonderful free spectacle we can all enjoy, assuming clear skies. | Robin Scagell, vice president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: "The thing about shooting stars is they're a wonderful free spectacle we can all enjoy, assuming clear skies. |
| "The Perseids are usually fairly bright. Also, they tend to leave a trail, or train, behind them. You can see the train hanging there glowing in the sky for a few seconds - sometimes for several minutes - after the meteor has gone." | "The Perseids are usually fairly bright. Also, they tend to leave a trail, or train, behind them. You can see the train hanging there glowing in the sky for a few seconds - sometimes for several minutes - after the meteor has gone." |
| Marek Kakula, public astronomer at the Royal Observatory described the comet dust as "travelling faster than the speed of a bullet". | Marek Kakula, public astronomer at the Royal Observatory described the comet dust as "travelling faster than the speed of a bullet". |
| "When they hit the atmosphere, they burn up in a little streak of light that lasts for just a few seconds," he added. | "When they hit the atmosphere, they burn up in a little streak of light that lasts for just a few seconds," he added. |
| For most people, meteor showers are best viewed with the naked eye. Experts advise finding a dark location, away from artificial light, and an unobstructed view of the sky. | For most people, meteor showers are best viewed with the naked eye. Experts advise finding a dark location, away from artificial light, and an unobstructed view of the sky. |