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**Lady Cop** · 08-10-2010 08:41 PM

if you've never seen them, you have to! it's heavenly!
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Every August, just when many people go vacationing in the country where skies are dark, the best-known meteor shower — the Perseid meteor shower — makes its appearance.

The "shooting stars" promise to deliver an excellent show this year to anyone with clear and dark skies away from urban and suburban lights.

The best time to watch for meteors will be from the late-night hours of Wednesday, Aug, 11 on through the predawn hours of Aug. 13 – two full nights and early mornings. Patient skywatchers with good conditions could see up to 60 shooting stars an hour or more.

The event is also known as "The Tears of St. Lawrence."

Laurentius, a Christian deacon, is said to have been martyred by the Romans in 258 AD on an iron outdoor stove. It was in the midst of this torture that Laurentius cried out:

"I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other."

The Saint's death was commemorated on his feast day, Aug. 10. King Phillip II of Spain built his monastery place the "Escorial," on the plan of the holy gridiron. And the abundance of shooting stars seen annually between approximately Aug. 8 and 14 have come to be known as St. Lawrence's "fiery tears."

We know today that these meteors are actually the dusty remains left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. Discovered back in 1862, and most recently observed in 1992, this comet takes approximately 130 years to circle the sun. With each pass, Comet Swift-Tuttle produces a debris trail along its orbit to cause the Perseids.

Every year during mid-August, when the Earth passes close to the orbit of Swift-Tuttle, the material left behind by the comet from its previous visits ram into our atmosphere at approximately 37 miles per second (60 km/second) and creates bright streaks of light in our midsummer night skies.

**Maggot** · 08-10-2010 08:43 PM

It was clear all day then poof the clouds rolled in. :mad:

**Lady Cop** · 08-11-2010 07:24 PM

you need to drive up the Mt. Washington auto road and watch from there!
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**Lady Cop** · 08-13-2010 03:12 AM

i went out to wish upon a star, but it was damp and chilly and cloudy.

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so much for that happy horseshit.

**Duchess** · 08-13-2010 06:49 PM

I have either forgotten all about it or I've fallen asleep waiting for it to begin...it's been cloudy all day so it's almost certain that I'll be wide awake & waitin' and the cloud cover will prevent me from seeing anything.

**Oscar** · 08-14-2010 07:32 AM

I was In hospital but my husband did get a good show just standing In the front garden between Midnight and 01.30.

Threaded Mode \| Linear Mode Perseid Meteor Showers begin Wednesday night!
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