August 09, 2024

This Week in Space 123: The Mighty Perseids

1 hour

Each year, there are a handful of impressive meteor showers, and one of the largest and best this year will be the Perseids. The quarter moon will set just before midnight, when the shower activity peaks, and if you're in a dark spot expect to see maybe 50-60 shooting stars per hour. Steve Fentress, veteran astronomer and planetarium director, joins us to provide viewing tips, a meteor shower, and star lore over the ages, and more.

Headlines: Starliner

- Boeing's Starliner spacecraft continues to face issues, with some experts questioning whether the program will continue after the current mission

- NASA's recent press conferences regarding Starliner have been criticized for lack of clarity and transparency

- SpaceX's Crew Dragon may become the sole provider of crew transportation to the International Space Station if Starliner's problems persist

Main Topic: The Perseid Meteor Shower

- The Perseid meteor shower, peaking around August 12th, is expected to be especially impressive this year due to favorable moon conditions

- Observers can expect to see up to one or two meteors per minute under dark sky conditions

- The Perseids are created by debris left behind by comet 109P Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years

- Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli first identified the connection between the Perseids and comet Swift-Tuttle in the 19th century

- The colors observed in meteors are caused by different chemical elements in the meteoroids and Earth's atmosphere

- Steve Fentress shares the fascinating history of meteor shower observations and their connection to comets

- Tips for observing the Perseids include finding a dark location, dressing warmly, and watching the sky between 3 AM and dawn

- The future of planetariums lies in becoming valuable community resources and embracing new technologies to create engaging experiences for visitors

- Steve Fentress discusses his book "Sky to Space" and his new podcast, "The Forgotten Bookshelf," which features interesting and obscure topics from old books

Host: Rod Pyle

Co-Host: Isaac Arthur

Guest: Steve Fentress

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