Summer is the best time to gaze at the night sky. Beyond the fact that many people are on vacation and stargazing can be a way to unwind, it's during this time that some of the most spectacular astronomical phenomena occur, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. If you're in a location with minimal light pollution and the moon isn't at its fullest, you can't miss the Perseids. Also known as the "tears of Saint Lawrence," these are tiny dust particles that enter Earth's atmosphere at high speed and, thanks to friction with the atmospheric gas, disintegrate. The result of this process is that the particles become bright objects, resembling a meteor shower. A Perseid streaks across the sky over Bryce Canyon National Park (United States) AFP. The Perseid meteor shower originates from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which completes an orbit around the Sun approximately every 133 years. Each time it approaches the Sun, it releases jets of gas that create a spectacular display. "If viewing conditions were ideal, we could see around one hundred shooting stars per hour, but the brightness of the Moon will be one of the factors that will cause the actual number of visible Perseids to drop to about fifty," said José María Madiedo, a researcher at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC). Therefore, there are certain locations where it will be easier to see the Perseids, and these will be places where light pollution is minimal. Thus, large cities like Madrid and Barcelona will be the least likely areas to see them. In contrast, small mountain or coastal towns will be the preferred locations for viewing the Perseids. Why are they called the Tears of Saint Lawrence? In 2022, this phenomenon will reach its peak activity between August 11 and 13. The Moon, which reaches its full phase on August 12, will interfere with observation and only allow the brightest Perseids to be seen. However, for several nights around those dates, Perseid activity will also be high, allowing a large number of shooting stars to be seen. And this is where their popular name comes from. Related News Standard No Sturgeon Supermoon: what time and where in Spain can you see the August full moon MLC It will be the last supermoon of the year and will coincide with the Perseids on August 12. Here are some tips to appreciate this phenomenon in all its splendor. August 10 is the feast day of Saint Lawrence. Christian tradition tells that he was condemned to be burned alive. During his execution, he could not hold back his tears, which, along with the fire, are likened to the flashes of light left by the Perseid meteor shower in the sky.
