The astronomical phenomenon of the Perseids, a meteor shower which began on July 17 and will last until August 24, is witnessing its peak on Monday and Tuesday, astrophysicist Chrysanthos Fakas has told CNA.
As Fakas explains, the phenomenon is called “Perseids”, because the radiant point from which the stars seem to fall is Perseus constellation, which is why the people gave the phenomenon this name.
However, as he notes, in reality, they are not falling stars, but pebbles that come into the atmosphere due to the Earth’s gravity. “These rocks begin to develop very high speeds, that is 50-60 km/second,” Fakas tells CNA, adding that due to this enormous speed, they develop very high temperatures and begin to melt in the sky.
“Tonight the world can see other constellations in the sky, such as the constellations of Scorpius and Antares, the planet Saturn and the moon”, the astrophysicist notes, clarifying that the moon will set around midnight, favouring the observation of the stars. “So those who are patient
will see a lot of Perseids after midnight, as the Perseus constellation will be ideal for viewing,” he points out.
In addition, Chrysanthos Fakas encourages the Cypriot public to enjoy the phenomenon outdoors or away from the lights and exhaust fumes. “Those who are in the cities unfortunately cannot observe it well”, he adds.
Source: Cyprus News Agency