Saturday, August 11, 2012
A natural fireworks show should begin between midnight and the early dawn hours of Aug. 12.
A low of 67 degrees and mostly clear skies—Perry Hall's weather between midnight and the early dawn hours of Aug. 12 is well suited for the annual Perseid meteor shower. According to NASA: Each year in August, the Earth passes through a cloud of the comet's debris. These bits of ice and dust—most over 1,000 years old—burn up in the Earth's atmosphere to create one of the best meteor showers of the year. So where in Perry Hall is the best place to watch? Try the playing fields at Honeygo Run Regional Park, or the baseball diamond behind Kingsville Elementary School's playgrounds. Share your suggestions in the comments. Want to find out more about exactly what causes the natural fireworks? Astronomer and researcher Elizabeth Jeffery, Ph.D. …
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Leonids meteor shower is expected to peak a few hours before dawn on Nov. 18.
Elizabeth Jeffery, Ph.D., is an astronomer and former researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore City. She is currently a professor of Physics and Astronomy at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Sometimes the world's best shows go on behind the curtain. This will certainly ring true Thursday night and into the early morning Friday, as the Leonids meteor shower peaks on the other side of cloud cover. You may have caught a glimpse of the Perseid meteor shower back in August, when natural fireworks catapulted through the sky near the constellation Perseus. This upcoming show will appear to hail from the constellation Leo the Lion. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. So, what causes the meteor shower? As I …
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Get out and enjoy the annual Perseid meteor shower.
Get instant local news updates. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Elizabeth Jeffery, Ph.D., is an astronomer and researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore City. If wishes made on shooting stars come true, this could be your lucky weekend. Early Saturday morning marks the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Few things give even a casual star gazer as much heart-jumping excitement as spotting a meteor. Meteors, sometimes called shooting or falling stars, are actually not stars at all. A meteor is created when a tiny piece of space junk (for example, a bit of dust or rock) enters the earth's atmosphere. As this small piece of debris flies high through the air, it encounters friction that makes it so …
