Three Wise Men

“Perseids” parent body is a comet Swift-Tuttle; which was discovered in 1862 by Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle.  Comet made a return trip back in 1992. Perseids meteor shower has been observed for about 2000 years, maybe more.  Earliest records can be seen in eastern journal and annals which date back to 36 AD. But Catholics referred to it as “tears of St. Lawrence”, since meteors seemed to be in abundance during the festival of that saint. This particular meteor shower was discovered by Adolphe Quételet, who made his report of meteor shower emanating from the constellation of Perseus in 1835.

Observers on the Northern Hemisphere can start seeing Perseid meteors as early as 23 of July, when one meteor per hour can be visible. During the course of three weeks this rate slowly builds-up. At peak; which is usually around August 12-13 we can spot 50-80 meteors per hour. They rapidly decline to about 10 per hour by the August 15 and can rarely be seen after the 22 of August. They emanate from constellation of Perseus. It is good to wait for the constellation to rise up on the sky and observe topically fast and bright meteors.

If you are on vacation or have time and there is not a cloud in the sky at night take a load of and catch a falling star.