On Monday, August 12, the Perseid meteor shower began, with meteors passing through the sky and the night sky filled with the aurora, creating a double treat for skywatchers.
People came out of their homes and ventured out to dark places to watch the amazing show in the sky.
Videos and photos showed numerous shooting stars passing by and filling the night sky with pink and green hues, with netizens capturing the shooting stars and the aurora borealis and sharing them on the X platform.
The Perseid meteor shower was expected to peak on the night of August 11th, 2024, before sunrise on August 12th.
For those who weren't able to see the meteors in person, astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project livestreamed the meteor shower.
About the Perseid meteor shower
The Perseid meteor shower occurs annually between mid-July and late August. It is the most beautiful meteor shower of the year and gives skywatchers a great opportunity to spot shooting stars on warm summer nights.
Meteor showers are named by astrophysicists based on the constellations from which the meteors radiate.
As seen from Earth, the Perseid meteor shower appeared roughly in the direction of the constellation Perseus in the Northern Hemisphere.
According to NASA, during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, an average of nearly 100 meteors can be seen per hour.
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A typical Perseid meteoroid travels at a speed of 133,200 miles per hour (214,365 km/h) when it strikes Earth's atmosphere and is called a meteor.
Perseid meteors are generally very small, about the size of a grain of sand.
The Perseid meteor shower occurs every year, but a possible Perseid meteor storm is expected in 2028.
(With input from relevant agencies)
