It will be an extraordinary night. Rain stars – Gazeta.pl

Shooting stars are technically called meteors. It crushed rock from space that burn up upon entering the atmosphere.

– What seems to us shooting star, in fact, it is just a speck of dust, often no larger than a grain of sand. It falls into the Earth’s atmosphere and friction for it warms up, it is burned, and trace this process we observe in the sky as short-lived, fast flash – told PAP popularizer of astronomy Charles Wojcicki planetarium sky Copernicus, Copernicus Science Centre.

Most meteors can be seen when the Earth collides with a plume of gas and dust left by a comet. This happens every year in July and August, when our planet meets with the material left behind by the comet 109P / Swift-Tuttle. Earth its way through her braid, and its particles invade Earth’s atmosphere. Maximum shooting stars, from 80 to 100 per hour, will be seen in the night from Wednesday to Thursday (ie from 12 to 13 August, from midnight to dawn). The sky will then be shown the most popular meteor shower, called Perseidami (meteors seem to be running out of the constellation Perseus, hence their name).

Where to watch?

The observations of meteors are among the simplest in astronomy. You do not need to any special equipment, just the look out for the naked eye. For convenience and to avoid neck pain should lie on the ground, a blanket or a deck chair and patiently staring at the sky. Turn our gaze to the east – it was there in the first half of the night will ascend constellation Perseus.

Meteora best look out of suburban areas, but the city also is a chance to see the rain of stars.

– meteor activity in cities is not so visible, because they disappear in the glow of the city, but the brightest, the most attractive are certainly visible. You can go to the park, sit in the square and the square, go up on the roof or balcony and patiently staring at the sky – selects Wojcicki.

In the Tri phenomenon is best seen on the beach. In Gdynia they fall such proposals as seaside boulevard or beach downtown. – It’s a very popular place, but not necessarily conducive to observation of falling stars, because of the intensity of urban lighting. But picking up in the vicinity of a wild beach in Redłowo or in Babie Doly, the phenomenon is more visible. Who can afford to zarwanie night during the week, should visit the neighboring – Dębogórze, Mechelinki or Rewe – suggests the city of Gdynia.

In Gdansk residents will work together to admire the stars at a lighthouse in New Port. Unfortunately, common watching the Perseid not planning to hold any Tri institution. Gdansk Hewelianum Centre, will hold a night of shooting stars … on Friday. Rain no longer see the stars in return will show a jeep and a flight simulator.

clouds obstruct observation?

The weather observation will not be perfect. – Everything depends on whether the storm clouds in the afternoon (17-19) interferes with Tri-City, or not. The beginning of the night will not be perfect, 20-22 hours will be a lot of clouds, but a little patience in the second half of the night should be better and the stars should be visible, even though the single sky certainly will not – says Marcin Czeczatka, forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorological Forecasts Marine Gdynia.

It is worth to dress warmer, the temperature during the night of 15 to a maximum of 17 deg. Celsius.