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Credit & Copyright: RÈmi Boucher
Explanation:
Meteors streaked through the sky above many of Earth's cities last week, but nobody
was hurt, and no damage has been reported.
The assault from space appeared
to originate from someplace in the
constellation of
Perseus, and included millions of
small projectiles hurtling
toward Earth at over 200,000 kilometers per hour.
Pictured above, people gathered at
ASTROLab du Mont-Megantic in southern
Quebec,
Canada gazed helplessly toward
the sky last Thursday night as they themselves were unable to stop the meteor
onslaught.
Fortunately, Earth's defense, consisting of a planet-wise
blanket of air over 100-kilometers thick, obliterated the
attacking projectiles by using friction generated by their own speed to heat
them into disintegration.
The large triangle in the foreground,
although impressive in appearance, was not part of the Earth's meteor defense system.
The space attack
was expected as part of the annual Perseids
meteor shower as the Earth passed through sand-sized debris left over from the
sun-orbiting
Comet Swift-Tuttle.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: meteors - Perseids
Publications with words: meteors - Perseids
See also: