Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Explanation:What’s happening to this meteor?
Thisbright meteor streakappeared and disappeared quickly during a long exposure of the Great Lacerta Nebula, seen faintly in red toward the center of the image.
Themeteoroid, likely a small pebble, creates its glowpartly by heating and exciting surrounding air inEarth’s atmosphere, but itself vaporizes and leaves wind-blown gas and dust withcolorsthat give clues to its composition.
The featured image was captured last month from Death Valley ObservatoriesinNevada,USA.
This month, though, is particularly good forseeing meteors.
Presently there arethreemeteorshowersongoing, although they are currentlycompeting for visibilitywith the glow of a brightgibbous Moon.
The most active of these showers, the Perseids, will be busiest in about 10 days — afterthe Moonhas dimmed considerably.
This year, the Perseids peaknearly coincides with not only anew Moon, but, from some locations, one thattotally eclipsesthe Sun.
Sky Surprise:What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?Tomorrow’s picture:open space…