The Perseids and the Plough
Explanation:
Despite interfering moonlight, many denizens of planet Earth were able
to watch this year's
Perseid meteor shower.
This pastoral scene includes local skygazers admiring the shower's
brief, heavenly flashes in predawn hours near peak activity
on August 13 from Nalati Grassland in Xinjiang, China.
A composite, the image registers seven frames taken during a two hour
span recording Perseid meteor streaks against a starry sky.
Centered along the horizon is
the Plough, the north's most famous asterism,
though some might see the familiar celestial kitchen utensil known
as the Big Dipper.
Perhaps the year's most
easily enjoyed meteor shower,
Perseid meteors are produced as Earth itself
sweeps through dust
from periodic comet Swift-Tuttle.
The dust particles are vaporized at altitudes of 100 kilometers
or so as they plow through the atmosphere at 60 kilometers per second.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
