One of the world’s most famous meteor showers will shine in the sky this week in a rare and beautiful astronomical phenomenon: the Perseids. Present every year in August, the rain will peak next Monday, the 12th. promises a spectacle for astronomy lovers. Check it out!
Perseids, one of the world’s most famous meteor showers, will peak this weekend
First of all: what causes meteor showers?
As they cross the universe, comets and asteroids leave debris scattered around. Sometimes the Earth passes close to this debris, which falls into our atmosphere at very high speed and, due to friction, ends up catching fire. This causes a luminous trail across the sky, which we call a meteor shower or shooting star.
The Perseids appear in the sky at the same time every year as a result of fragments of the comet Swift-Tuttle. Its name is a tribute to the constellation of Perseus, where it “appears” in the sky.
During the peak, expect to see between 60 and 100 meteors per hour. An unforgettable phenomenon!
Will it be possible to watch the Perseids in São Paulo?
On August 12, a cyclone is expected to bring cloudy and rainy weather to most of Brazil, including São Paulo, which will hinder the view of the Perseids. In other words, visibility around here won’t be the best.
The weather in São Paulo will be cloudy, and the chances of seeing the Perseids clearly will be low. Even so, if you’re interested in giving it a try, the peak of the meteors will be after midnight, with the greatest intensity between 2am and 4am.
The tip for trying to see this phenomenon is to look for high places with little light, away from large urban centers, for example.
