Perseid Annual Meteor Shower

 How To See Perseid Meteor Shower 2021 | AccuWeather

The Perseid (PUR see eed) Meteor Shower occurs annually around August 11. Astronomers consider the Perseid among the best known and most reliable showers. The name comes from the constellation Perseus (PUR see us) because the ancients believed the meteors came from a point in Perseus.

In its revolution around the sun, the earth passes through the garbage of space, which lights up in meteors. Children call these burning particles shooting stars. In real time, as I contemplate the Perseid Meteor Shower with you to read at some future time, it is happening. The scheduled dates are July 17, 2021, through August 24, 2021. Space scientists say the biggest fireworks show of meteors will be tonight, August 11-12. The meteors, which we perceive as shooting stars, are pieces of debris left behind by a huge comet. The meteors fly through space at 133,000 miles per hour and burst 60 miles from the earth. (Based on “Watch the Perseids Meteor Shower Peak in Night Skies,” by Nicholas St. Fleur, New York Times, August 11, 2021)

The parent body of the Perseid Meteor Shower is the Comet Swift-Tuttle, named after two men, Swift and Tuttle, who saw it independently of one another in July 1862. The comet appeared in 1992, when it was visible with binoculars. In 2126, it will be a bright comet [about seventeen miles wide] visible to naked eyes when it passes 14.2 million miles from Earth.

Comet Swift-Tuttle has been described as the “single most dangerous object known to humanity.” Although it comes close to the earth and our moon, scientists have recalculated the comet’s orbit, and they assure us that it will not present danger to the earth for the next two thousand years. In the year 3044, however, the comet is expected to pass one million miles—not too close to do harm—from Earth. (Paraphrased from Wikipedia articles)

The comet is at its farthest point from us now. I wondered how we could see so many meteors from such a great distance. An article featured on the website of the International Meteor Organization explained that it is possible to see them.

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All day yesterday, I was excited about seeing the Perseid Meteor Shower. As soon as light disappeared from our windows, I rushed out the front door to check on our situation. The sun was dropping behind a few clouds, the overhead sky was almost clear, and the sliver of a new moon was setting. Conditions looked promising for us to go out later and watch for meteors, but as on many nights, our resident skunk had spewed his odors throughout our yard.

“We’ll need to go in the car to look,” I told John as I filled the dishwasher. He had cooked a marvelous meal. Therefore, it was my job to do the dishes, although we usually end up doing dishes together.

About 10:30, he became anxious to see the show. Since we knew we couldn’t watch from the stone bench in the front yard, we rushed around gathering binoculars and jumped into the car. Hoping to find a dimly lighted spot, we drove through the Canyon. He wanted to drive down a road we know about in the cotton fields, but I objected. I didn’t feel brave enough.

We decided to go onto the farm to market road, which is a dark, paved highway. John pulled onto the wide shoulder and stopped the car. We made sure the doors were locked, and he turned off the headlights. He turned on the flashers, and we opened the skylight. I felt romantic because we were parking, frightened because we were sitting on the side of a busy road, and excited about the possibilities of seeing shooting stars. (When I was a child, we saw meteors every night as we watched the sky on our front porch in the country. It was not like I’d never seen them, but the show was supposed to be fantastic.)

Hardly any cars were on the road, but one car came toward us. Oh, no, I thought when the car slowed a bit. Somebody will think we’re in trouble and offer to help us. As the car disappeared behind us, I sighed in relief and returned to looking overhead for meteors.

“It’s a cop!” John sounded upset. “I didn’t bring my billfold.”

I felt panicky. We were going to need to do some fast talking.

As the deputy sheriff came to the driver’s side and shined his flashlight into the car, John lowered the window.

We both talked. In a cheerful fashion, we explained that we were watching the stars.

“I just wanted to check on you.” He must have been contacted by the traveler who had passed us a few minutes earlier. “Have a good time. Be careful.”

As he walked away, John started the car. I rejoiced because the officer had not asked to see John’s driver’s license.

We returned to the Canyon and slowed down at dark spots. Eventually we returned to our driveway, where we sat a few minutes. I saw one meteor.

“I’m going in.” John backed the car inside the garage.

“I’m so sorry. I have a confession to make.”

“What?”

A mixture of remorse and giggles overwhelmed me. “I had the wrong night.” 

Tonight, we'll watch.