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Credit & Copyright: Urs Leutenegger
Explanation:
On August 11, 2021
a multi-mirror, 17 meter-diameter
MAGIC telescope reflected
this starry night sky from the Roque de los Muchachos
European Northern Observatory on the Canary Island of La Palma.
MAGIC stands for Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov.
The telescopes can see the brief
flashes of optical light produced
in particle air showers as high-energy
gamma rays impact the Earth's upper atmosphere.
To the dark-adapted eye the mirror segments offer a tantalizing reflection
of stars and nebulae along the plane of our Milky Way galaxy.
But directly behind the segmented mirror telescope, low on the horizon, lies the
constellation Perseus.
And on that date the dramatic composite nightscape also
captured meteors streaming
from the radiant of the annual
Perseid meteor shower.
This
year the Perseid shower
activity
will
again peak
around August 13 but perseid meteors
will have to compete with the bright light of a Full Moon.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Perseids
Publications with words: Perseids
See also: