Perseid meteor shower at its peak, Cypriot astrophysicist says

11:29 - 13 August 2024

Current Affairs Reporter

The astronomical phenomenon of the Perseids, a meteor shower which began on 17 July and will last until 24 August, is currently experiencing its peak, astrophysicist Chrysanthos Fakas has said.

As Fakas explains in comments to CNA, the phenomenon is called "Perseids", because the radiant point from which the stars seem to fall is the 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 told 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, referring to 13 August.

In addition, Chrysanthos Fakas encouraged 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 noted.

(Source: CNA)

Perseid meteor shower at its peak, Cypriot astrophysicist says

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