Meteor Shower Research Paper
The Perseid Meteor Shower (pur-see-id) is one of the most famous meteor showers. This is not only because of the exceedingly high amount of meteors, but also due to its lengthy appearance in the night sky. The Perseids can occupy the sky for up to six weeks between the middle of July and the end of August.
The Perseids can be seen when Earth passes through Comet Swift-Tuttle, however, the most meteors will be visible when Earth passes through the densest, dustiest area of Swift-Tuttle.
The Perseid Meteor shower is actually debris left from the comet that heat up as they enter the atmosphere. The meteoroids end when they burn up leaving a bright burst of light. Technically, once the pieces of rock enter the atmosphere they are called
meteors. If a meteor makes it to the ground, without burning up, it moves up to a meteorite. Most of the meteors in the Perseids are much to small to reach the ground; they're about the size of a grain of sand.
The meteor shower is easy to find. Just look below the constellation Cassiopeia and above Capella and Seven Sisters. As stated before, the Perseids look like they are coming off of the constellation Perseus. This constellation was actually what the Perseid is named after. Perseus was the hero from mythology that killed Medusa. However, the Perseid Meteor Shower can also be know as the Tears of Saint Lawrence. It will be easier to spot this meteor shower around "pre-dawn". People living in the Northern Hemisphere to mid-southern latitudes will have the best view of the show.
The Perseids can be seen when Earth passes through Comet Swift-Tuttle, however, the most meteors will be visible when Earth passes through the densest, dustiest area of Swift-Tuttle.
The Perseid Meteor shower is actually debris left from the comet that heat up as they enter the atmosphere. The meteoroids end when they burn up leaving a bright burst of light. Technically, once the pieces of rock enter the atmosphere they are called
meteors. If a meteor makes it to the ground, without burning up, it moves up to a meteorite. Most of the meteors in the Perseids are much to small to reach the ground; they're about the size of a grain of sand.
The meteor shower is easy to find. Just look below the constellation Cassiopeia and above Capella and Seven Sisters. As stated before, the Perseids look like they are coming off of the constellation Perseus. This constellation was actually what the Perseid is named after. Perseus was the hero from mythology that killed Medusa. However, the Perseid Meteor Shower can also be know as the Tears of Saint Lawrence. It will be easier to spot this meteor shower around "pre-dawn". People living in the Northern Hemisphere to mid-southern latitudes will have the best view of the show.