This Week in Space | The Mighty Perseids - Meteors are Coming! @thisweekinspace | Uploaded August 2024 | Updated October 2024, 2 hours ago.
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
This Week in Space episode 123
More Info: twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/123
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space
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About us:
TWiT.tv is a technology podcasting network located in the San Francisco Bay Area with the #1 ranked technology podcast This Week in Tech hosted by Leo Laporte. Every week we produce dozens of hours of content on a variety of programs including Tech News Weekly, MacBreak Weekly, This Week in Google, Windows Weekly, Security Now, and more.
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
This Week in Space episode 123
More Info: twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/123
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at twit.tv/clubtwit
Products we recommend: amazon.com/shop/twitnetcastnetwork
TWiT may earn commissions on certain products.
Follow us:
twit.tv
twitter.com/TWiT
facebook.com/TWiTNetwork
instagram.com/twit.tv
https://bsky.app/profile/twit.tv
About us:
TWiT.tv is a technology podcasting network located in the San Francisco Bay Area with the #1 ranked technology podcast This Week in Tech hosted by Leo Laporte. Every week we produce dozens of hours of content on a variety of programs including Tech News Weekly, MacBreak Weekly, This Week in Google, Windows Weekly, Security Now, and more.
