Meteor shower on Sunday night

Astronomy Week will kick off with the Perseid Meteor Shower on Sunday night and Monday morning, an event watched by thousands of people all over the world.

The Astronomical Society of Malta, which is celebrating 30 years of astronomy since it was first founded as the Astronomical Association of Malta in 1977, said that this year there will be no interference from moonlight.

The peak of the shower is expected to be on Sunday night when our planet silently drifts through the orbit of comet Swift-Tuttle, encountering debris left over by the comet each time it approaches the sun, every 130 years.

This debris rams into the upper atmosphere at speeds of about 60 kilometres per second causing the air to ionise and shed bright streaks of light as the grain-sized particles vaporise.

This meteor shower is known as Dmugh ta' San Lawrenz in Maltese tradition.

The society is inviting all to join its members and observe the shower from L-Ahrax tal-Mellieha, next to the chapel from 9.30 p.m. onwards on Sunday night. The greatest number of meteors would be close to dawn.

A computer presentation will also be running continuously from 9 30 p.m.

The planet Jupiter is also visible at this time of year and well placed in the sky for observation. Telescopes will also be set up by society members for public use.

www.maltastro.org