Context
Perseids Meteor Shower reached its peak on August 11.
About Perseid Meteor Shower
- The name “Perseid” is believed to originate from the Perseus constellation, where the meteors appear to radiate from.
- The meteor shower peaks annually in mid-August, one of the best and most visible meteor showers.
- It is particularly abundant, with the potential to observe nearly 100 meteors per hour.
- Typically, fast-moving and bright, often leaving a glowing trail of light and colour
- Notable for producing fireballs, which are large, bright explosions of light and colour that last longer than typical shooting stars.
- Fireballs are caused by larger fragments of comet material entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
About Meteor Shower
- A meteor is a space rock that enters Earth’s atmosphere, becoming intensely hot due to friction with the air.
- The bright streak observed during a meteor event is the result of the heated air surrounding the meteor, not the rock itself.
- Meteor Shower: When numerous space rocks simultaneously enter Earth’s atmosphere, this event is known as a meteor shower.
- Meteors travel at extremely high speeds, reaching tens of thousands of kilometers per hour, and typically disintegrate due to the intense heat generated by atmospheric friction.
Source:
Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
Objects in space: Description
1. Cepheids: Giant clouds of dust and gas in space
2. Nebulae: Stars which brighten and dim periodically
3. Pulsars: Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (d)
