Catch A Falling Star
Skywatchers get ready for one of the best chances to see shooting stars. The optimal time see this spectacular show is between midnight and dawn on August 11-12 and August 12-13! On a clear night, even 200 shooting stars per hour could be visible. Every August, the Earth travels through the trail of debris from comet Swift-Tuttle’s orbit around the sun.
In fact, comet Swift-Tuttle orbits the sun every 133 years. Whenever a comet nears the sun, the surface ionizes, releasing a tail of gas and dust. Over the millennia, these dust particles accumulate in its orbital path. Every August, the Earth’s orbit intersects this trail of dust particles left by comet Swift-Tuttle, which appear as the Perseid meteor showers.
In fact, comet Swift-Tuttle orbits the sun every 133 years. Whenever a comet nears the sun, the surface ionizes, releasing a tail of gas and dust. Over the millennia, these dust particles accumulate in its orbital path. Every August, the Earth’s orbit intersects this trail of dust particles left by comet Swift-Tuttle, which appear as the Perseid meteor showers.
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