Romantic stargazing on a clear summer night is especially rewarding these days. Because the “Tears of Laurentius” provide a nighttime spectacle.
Every year the Earth passes the orbit of Comet Swift-Tuttle. As a result, a number of fragments near the sun have been lost. When this mini-debris enters the Earth’s atmosphere at about 200,000 kilometers per hour and burns up, we can observe shooting stars in the cloudless night sky.
The impressive spectacle, which has been obscured by the supermoon at its peak in recent days, will last until August 24. Therefore, the best chance to hunt shooting stars this year is next week – preferably after dark, but before the moon appears.
The phenomenon is also called the Perseid Rain because to the observer it appears as if the shooting stars come directly from the constellation Perseus. The constellation Perseus is easy to find in the northeastern sky. It aligns with the left star of the Autumn Quadrilateral in the constellation Pegasus, a diamond of four bright stars.
The earliest records of the Perseids come from China and are about 2,000 years old. Much earlier than the legend of the Perseids says. According to this, the heavenly arrows of light are the “tears of Lawrence”. The martyr Laurentius was burned in Rome in the 3rd century.
We consider seeing a shooting star a lucky charm
Anyone who sees a flash in the sky has a wish – but it will only come true if you don’t tell it. In August it literally rains wishes. Conditions are ideal on clear, starry nights: “Stargazers would then be able to observe up to 50 shooting stars per hour,” says astro-expert Sven Melchert.
But beware: given the drought, which poses the risk of forest fires in many places, the Vienna Astronomy Association advises against “Perseid celebrations”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
