Perseid meteor shower is the most colorful of the Shooting Stars, which can be observed in the Northern Hemisphere.It forms the tail of the comet, which is very close to the Earth only once in a hundred years, but her tail through our planet is held annually.And every August because we can see it is a beautiful sight.Surely you are interested and want to see it!Unfortunately, the Perseid meteor shower 2013 has observed, we can not, but there is enough time to properly prepare for the next August.
history observations
Perseid meteor shower was observed by people in different parts of the earth since ancient times.The first reliable mention of it is contained in Chinese chronicles in '36 BC, where it is written about the hundreds of stars falling from the sky.Regularly such information is found in the records of the chroniclers East from VIII to XII century AD.However, after this mention of Starfall becoming rarer.In medieval Europe, the Perseids meteor shower was identified with St. Lawrence, because it took place in August, the festival of his name in Italy.
Research
In the XIX century for the Perseid meteor shower, astronomers took.For example, in 1835 the Belgian Adolphe Quetelet during said first that the meteor shower has a strict periodicity.In 1839, during the German mathematician and astronomer was determined zenith hour flow number, which was estimated at 160 meteors.In fact, since the middle of XIX century begin permanent observation of the phenomenon astronomers from around the world.Interestingly, in some years - 1861, 1864 - the intensity was significantly higher than in the rest.Trying to find the causes of this fact, the researchers found that Perseids are the brainchild of one of the comets, having long circulation orbit around the Earth.In fact, it is part of its tail, made up of small stones and ice.And during its approach to the planet, respectively, increases the intensity within its atmosphere and burning particles here.It was discovered in 1867 by Italian Giovanni Skiparelli.
minimum flow activity was registered in 1911, when there were only four recorded meteor.However, after that it began to rise again in 1920 suddenly increased dramatically, reaching as many as 200 meteors per hour.In subsequent decades, the intensity is usually not more than 65 meteors.The next highest peak was observed in 1981.He has been associated with a new gradual approach of the comet to Earth, which occurred in December 1992.As the reader will realize, after this meteor stream activity again began to decline.Its zenith hour number is almost never more than 60 meteors each hour.Maximum number usually falls on August 11-12.
Meteorströme 2013, of course, have not been particularly intense, whatever they might be, are now the comet is closer to Earth.As they will not reach its peak next year.At the same time, the Shooting Stars is the most spectacular, that we can observe in the Northern Hemisphere throughout the year.
