On the night of Aug. 3, 2025, NASA photographer Invoice Ingalls captured a fleeting ‘taking pictures star’ over the evening skies in West Virginia throughout two totally different meteor showers. As these occasions proceed to rain meteors throughout the sky, stargazers plan to see these occasions in areas with little light pollution.
What’s it?
Meteor showers happen when Earth, on its orbit across the solar, passes by way of clouds of particles left behind by comets, generally consisting of items no larger than a grain of sand. As these tiny fragments collide with Earth’s atmosphere, they fritter away at excessive speeds and create the streak of sunshine we name meteors, or taking pictures stars.
Whereas showers happen all year long, sure ones are particularly anticipated resulting from their brightness, frequency, or distinctive visible traits.
The place is it?
Ingalls took this photograph in Spruce Knob, West Virginia, a distant space that gives good viewing situations for skywatchers.
Why is it superb?
Apart from displaying a fantastic evening sky, Ingalls was capable of seize this picture in the course of the temporary overlap interval between two meter showers: the Perseid meteor shower and the Alpha Capricornid meteor bathe.
The Perseid meteor bathe is likely one of the most well-known and lively showers of the yr. It is attributable to particles from the comet Swift-Tuttle, with fast-moving meteors that go away shiny trails.
In distinction, the Alpha Capricornids meteor bathe is produced from particles from the comet-like physique 169P/NEAT with slower meteor speeds than the Perseid meteor bathe.
Need to study extra?
You possibly can learn extra in regards to the science of meteor showers and skywatching events.