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Image of some Perseids

On the trail of the comet Swift-Tuttle

On the central nights of August, look toward the constellation Perseus to catch some Perseids.

Every year, in the middle of August, the probability of seeing shooting stars increases. This is the time of the year when the Perseids' meteor shower occurs. During this period, the Earth interacts with the dust particles left by the comet Switf-Tuttle in its path, many of which burst into our atmosphere at high speed and when they rub against its gases, they ignite and emit light. Catching the Perseids with your eyes is quite a challenge and this year you can try it from August 12 to 24, being the night of August 12 to 13 the peak of the Perseids.

Comets are small solid-body celestial objects that heat up as they approach a star like the Sun, emit dust and gases, and form the beautiful tails that characterize them. These bodies move in orbits of widely varying periods. Comet Swift-Tuttle, discovered independently in 1862 by Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle, traces an orbit of about 133 years along which it approaches our Sun and crosses the Earth's orbit. The last time the comet came close to our planet was in 1992 and it will not pass again until 2126, but the Earth crosses its passage zone every year and encounters the remnants of dust it left behind. These particles (generally smaller than the head of a pin) travel at more than 200,000 kilometers per hour, so if they penetrate the Earth's atmosphere at that speed, they ignite due to friction with the molecules of atmospheric gases and emit enough light to be detected from the surface, about 100 kilometers below.

The name Perseids refers to the constellation Perseus, the region of the celestial dome where these meteors usually enter. So, to increase the probability of seeing them, direct your gaze towards that area, although you will also have to take some other measures. In a lighted city like Barcelona, light pollution makes it difficult to observe them, so it is advisable to look for a space without too much light, such as a rooftop or a point within a green area such as Montjuic or Collserola. Also, keep in mind that the Moon is another source of light pollution, so it is advisable to do the star hunting when it has set.

So now you know: from August 12 to 24 look for a place free of light, get comfortable, look towards Perseus and, if you hunt a Perseid, make a wish. Whether it comes true or not, that will be up to you.

More information in this link.

Publication date: Tuesday, 10 August 2021
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