Full Moon Perseids
Explanation:
The annual
Perseid
meteor shower
was near its peak on August 13.
As planet Earth crossed through streams of debris left by periodic
Comet
Swift-Tuttle
meteors rained in northern summer night skies.
But even
that
night's nearly Full Moon
shining near the top of this composited
view couldn't hide all of the popular shower's meteor streaks.
The image captures some of the brightest perseid meteors in many
short exposures recorded over more than two hours before the dawn.
It places the shower's radiant in the heroic constellation of Perseus
just behind a well-lit medieval tower in the village of
Sant Llorenc de la Muga, Girona, Spain.
Observed in medieval times, the Perseid meteor shower
is also known in Catholic tradition as the Tears of St. Lawrence,
and festivities are celebrated close to the annual peak of the meteor shower.
Joining the Full Moon
opposite
the Sun,
bright planet Saturn also shines in the frame at the upper right.
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.
