Thursday August 13, 2009
Another chance to catch Perseid meteor shower
By K. KASTURI DEWI
GEORGE TOWN: Malaysians who missed catching the peak of the Perseid meteor shower in the early hours this morning can catch the shower again after midnight tomorrow.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Astronomy Atmospheric Science Unit lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Chong Hon Yew said the meteor shower would be at its best between 1.30am and 4am in the northern sky with more than 100 Perseids streaking across the sky per hour.
He also said that according to the International Meteor Organisation (IMO), the shower could have started from July 24 and is expected to be observed until around Aug 17.
Dr Chong also said the Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle, are usually fast, bright and occasionally leave persistent trains.
“They are called thus because the point they come from lies in the constellation Perseus,” he said.
The shower is visible from mid-July each year, with the greatest activity between Aug 8 and 14, peaking around Aug 12.
Dr Chong said the meteor shower can be observed with the naked eye.
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