Meteor shower expected
Published 9 Aug 2012 09:00
A SPECTACULAR meteor shower is due to grace the skies this week.
The annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on Sunday, August 12.
Meteors are small pieces of space dust - usually only about the size of a grain of sand - that burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere. The dust particles are travelling at over 130,000 mph, meaning that even the smallest piece will produce a vivid streak of light lasting a few seconds as it disintegrates.
The shower should start between 9pm and 10pm, and peak at around 2am with one of two meteors a minute. The observatory recommends that the best way to view the display is to wrap up warm and lie on a deck chair, simply watching the sky.
Binoculars or telescopes aren't recommend because of the speed the meteors move at.
This article appeared in Clydebank Post 09 Aug 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
Clydebank Post Poll
Are you prepared for another onslaught of snow?
This Poll is now closed.
Yes (88.7%)
No (11.3%)
