Year of the Perseids
August 2005: Warm August nights provide the perfect opportunity to see a dark sky full of stars and the glory of our galaxy.
By Alister Ling
By Martin Ratcliffe
Published:
August 1, 2005
One of the year's best shows of "shooting stars" makes its annual return in mid-August. On the night of the peak (August 11/12), you can expect to see an average of one meteor every minute after midnight from a dark location. Earlier in the evening, rates likely will run half that. From a typical suburban backyard, you might see only one meteor every 10 minutes. See the sections "Meteors and moons" and "Star shower" on more details.
An enjoyable activity on a sunny summer day is to view the Sun. If you don't have a safe solar filter, head to the nearest planetarium or science center. Chances are it will have set up solar telescopes, and you can talk to a knowledgeable person about proper filters. |
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