Pericides: When and where to see meteor showers?

As usual every summer, millions of people can admire one of the most beautiful shows in the universe. Shooting stars Pericides Or “Lacrimas de San Lorenzo”, as they are known, crossed the night sky from July 17 and was visible until August 24, 2021, giving the highest point in the last hours of the days from 11 to 14 August.

What are Perseids?

A Meteor rain They reach speeds of over 50 km / s, and their operating rate can reach 200 meteors per hour.

According to information from Country, The event was first dated in 36, but it was not until 1835 that it gained the name we know today.

It happened when an astronomer of Belgian descent saw in the sky a point in the constellation Perseus, and many light sources were emitted as rain, actually determined by small pieces of dust and rocks. Swift-tuttle, It melted by the heat of the sun.

About this comet, 26 kilometers in diameter and discovered in 1862, is known to complete an orbit around the Sun every 133 years, and when its fragment is smaller than a grain of sand, they glow and transform into a light star from Earth. As the light of day that looks like. According to experts, this year will be particularly active and can see more than 100 meteorites per hour.

For his part BBC According to Edward Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Museum in Greenwich, England, “Every year, the Earth collides with the orbit of the comet and all the debris that remains.”

Like this rubbish Rice, dust and rock fragments The size of a grain of rice- They hit the upper layers of the atmosphere and “ignite flames with amazing results, sometimes only a fraction of a second,” says Bloomer.

How to see the tears of San Lorenzo?

This way is also called because its zenith coincides with the saints San LorenzoOn August 10, the martyr on the grill and according to popular tradition his tears can be seen in the sky commemorating his day and his martyr, they can be seen by anyone without the need for any special equipment. Between 9:00 pm and midnight, those who want to appreciate this magnificent view provided by nature should go to an open, secluded, dark place and direct their gaze towards the clear sky from all light sources.

“All you have to do to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower is find a dark and safe place away from the strong light of the city.” NASA said.

For its part, Said astronomer Edward Bloomer “Treat yourself, spread a blanket and look at the sky. It’s incredibly relaxing” and visible to the world. ”

However, it is advisable to be patient when watching this meteor shower because the eyes need to adjust to certain moments of darkness. This period is about 20 minutes. In addition, weather forecasts should be consulted, especially for parts of North America where meteorologists forecast dark conditions this Wednesday.

“Allow your eyes to adjust in the dark (about 30 minutes), that way you will see more meteorites. Also, try to stay away from the phone as looking at devices with bright screens will negatively affect your night vision, and as a result, reduce the number of meteors you see!” , NASA, in quoted reports CNN.

2021 Continuous Vision in the United States

According to Broadcasting Center, The best weather for peak nights this year is planned from the southwestern interior to south-central America, where generally clear weather is expected.

Although some clouds can create some gaps around the Gulf Coast, there should be enough space to see the shooting stars.

The rest of the continent may not be so lucky. Partly cloudy weather is forecast in the Northwest and the Appalachian, with some chance of star sightings in the Midwest and Canadian meadows. Even though the peak night is cloudy, those who look at the sky get a chance to see the stars.

Virtual Perseids:

If we can’t get close to an area where there is no light to see the sky, we can see the meteor shower directly Via the Internet Without leaving home:

Channel sky-live.tv It broadcasts Perseid from the Institute de Astrophysica de Canarias (IAC).
Network of Politics and Meteorites in Southwestern Europe: Jose Maria Madito, Researcher at the Astronomical Institute of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), from her Twitter account (jmmadiedo) Bright persits recorded by monitor systems of different laboratories of the peninsula.
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville: From Facebook NASA meteor monitoring The meteor shower will be broadcast live.

Live:

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