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CAN'T MISS: The most spectacular meteor shower to light up the sky this week

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An annual display of natural fireworks, the Perseid meteor shower to grace the skies

Astronomers announced last Friday that the Perseid meteor shower will be extra spectacular this year, creating a natural display of fireworks in the sky. An extra-dark sky is predicted to provide the most optimal stargazing condition for viewers.

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Highlights

By Linky C. (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
8/10/2015 (8 years ago)

Published in Green

Keywords: meteor showers, stars, outer space, galaxy

MUNTINLUPA CITY, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Wednesday night, August 12, will offer one of the most stellar nights this year. As predicted by astronomers, the Perseid meteor shower, an annual festivity, is bound to be more magnificent this year. The meteor shower will be accompanied with a darker sky.

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A total of 100 shooting stars per hour is expected to create magnificent streaks in the sky and will be visible around the Northern Hemisphere. The moon's glow, luckily, will not interfere with the meteor-watching experience, as it will be approaching its darkest phase, the new moon phase, this coming Wednesday night.

"It's going to be a spectacular show this year," according to astronomer Morgan Hollis of the Royal Astronomical Society. "You'll be able to see a lot more than normal."

The Swift-Tuttle comet, that swings around the Solar System every 130 years will be depositing debris into Earth's orbit as it nears to sun and will offer a beautiful view of the sky around mid-July to mid-August.

As Earth revolves around the Sun, grains from the comet will smash into the atmosphere at about 60 kilometers per second, creating flashes of light in the sky. Pea and marble sized-comet debris will be featured as long and bright streaks in the sky.

This particular meteor shower is named after the constellation of Perseus, since they appear to fly out from this star formation. The Perseids is also known as the "tears of St. Lawrence," whose saint's day coincides with August 10, when the usual buildup of the Perseids happen.

The spectacular light show is best seen from an open wide space, away from tall buildings and trees and with as little artificial light as possible. You will not require a telescope or binoculars to see this stellar event.

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