Posted on 08/12/2024 3:03:01 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: What's happening in the sky above Stonehenge? A meteor shower: specifically, the Perseid meteor shower. A few nights ago, after the sky darkened, many images of meteors from this year's Perseids were captured separately and merged into a single frame. Although the meteors all traveled on straight paths, these paths appear slightly curved by the wide-angle lens of the capturing camera. The meteor streaks can all be traced back to a single point on the sky called the radiant, here just off the top of the frame in the constellation of Perseus. The same camera took a deep image of the background sky that brought up the central band of our Milky Way galaxy running nearly vertical through the image center. The featured image was taken from Wiltshire, England, being careful to include, at the bottom, the famous astronomical monument of Stonehenge. Although the Perseids peaked last night, some Perseid meteors should still be visible for a few more nights.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Very cool.
Okay, that’s really cool. THX for posting as always.
The really good pictures are from the spaceweather storms over the weekend.
VERY STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Multiple CMEs hit Earth over the weekend, sparking an ongoing geomagnetic storm. Storm levels are currently fluctuating between strong (G3) and severe (G4). This plot from NOAA shows the progress of the storm so far:
Last night, auroras were spotted in more than 30 US states as far south as Texas, Mississippi, Arizona, Colorado and California. The lowest latitude naked-eye sighting so far is +32 N. If the storm continues (a big IF), there could be a repeat display tonight, Aug. 12-13.
The light show occured during the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower. In Banner Elk, North Carolina
Browse the realtime aurora photo gallery for the latest submissions from around the world!
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
https://spaceweathergallery2.com/index.php?title=aurora
The Perseids are also known as the Tears of St. Lawrence whose feast day is August 10 (he was martyred on August 10, 258).
I saw the Perseids last night AND an aurora!!!
And it looks like more of the same provided the could cover leaves.
Here for the chance to be able to see an aurora.
STUNNING
>I saw the Perseids last night AND an aurora!!!
I saw a few two nights ago. During that session I also saw a swarm of newly launched starlink satellites on a descending arc from NNW to SSE.
Almost looks like Saturn in the middle, a bit to the right.
Wow.
We looked last night, but too many clouds.
I didn’t know they were visible last night. I’m at 42deg North, I should see something tonight if the sky’s clear. Thanks for the heads-up!
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