Peak universal "shower" will have on 11-13 August
Residents of the Northern Hemisphere in the coming nights are lucky enough to watch the biggest cosmic phenomenon. That the traditional August meteor shower is expected to be this year is particularly bright and spectacular.
According to the forecasts of the International Meteorological Organization, an hour can be traced back to the fall of 150 meteors from the Perseid constellation, whereas they are usually not more than 100. The maximum intensity of the stellar rain will fall on 11-13 August.
Perseids - one of the strongest meteor showers - occurs when the Earth enters the dust trail of comet Swift-Tuttle. This is the "caudate" a celestial body passes in its orbit around the sun for 133 years. As close to the star, the comet melts every time, and in its plume increases the number of free particles, which leads to an increase in the number of falling stars. The closest point to the Sun - perihelion - the comet has passed for the last time in 1992.
Falling Stars - a small particle of interplanetary matter white pea size is not large. Entering the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of about 20 km / s, they immediately burned, leaving a beautiful bright trail in the sky.
The unusual intensity of the Perseids this year due to the fact that the Earth will pass through the dense remains of the "tail" of the comet, says Space.com. However, the current star rain - not a record. In October 2011, a meteor shower Draconids issued 800 meteors per hour.
In August meteors will fly to Earth from the constellation Perseus and Camelopardalis. To observe them do not need astronomical instruments. But it is better to start to look at the stars early, since the peak of the Perseids will have full moon, bright moon and star rain will make less noticeable to the naked eye
