Because August is such a fantastic time for stargazing, we’re looking skyward at this spectacular nighttime scene of the Milky Way over the Totensee, a small natural lake in Switzerland. In the Northern Hemisphere, the nights are still long and remain warm, so if you"re lucky you can catch the always thrilling sight of a falling star. Tonight would be a good night to look for one because we"re at the tail end of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Like most predictable meteor showers, it occurs when the Earth"s orbit intersects with the long elliptical path of one of the millions of comets that orbit the sun. It is called the Perseid meteor shower because the bulk of the meteors will appear to originate out of the constellation Perseus. So, turn out the lights, head outside, and look up!
Reflections of the night sky
Today in History
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Wartburg Castle overlooking Thuringian Forest in Germany
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Behold the mighty Aldeyjarfoss
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A bite of ancient history
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World Otter Day
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Seven Magic Mountains art installation, Jean Dry Lake, Nevada
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World Rainforest Day
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Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
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Farmers Day
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Happy Hobbit Day
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In the Garden of Europe
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Night of the ‘Cold Moon’
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Black bear cub emerging into spring
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Welcome to the drainpipe of the Pacific
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The puffin-rabbit connection
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Welcome to El Cervantino
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Arbor Day
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Wind horses carry wishes for a new year
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Merry and bright
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Mont-Saint-Michel
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Hiding in plain sight
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International Day of Peace
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Sitka shines on Alaska Day
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Pining for spring
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National Mountain Climbing Day
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Take this for a spin...