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
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Two rocks and a heart spot
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Big wheels on a big mountain
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I ll call for pen and ink
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Nesting season for the leatherbacks
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A cliff-hanging complex of temples
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International Day for Biodiversity
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‘Hello’ from zero degrees longitude
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Illuminations on the Gulf of Poets
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World Theatre Day
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Lake Bled, Slovenia
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Irohazaka road
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This reef is nowhere near the sea…
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Autumn in the Prosecco Hills
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Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
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May we have this dance?
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Astronomy Day
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Cetacean Saturday
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To Roswell, and beyond!
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Alaska Bald Eagle Festival
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National Park Week begins
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Native American Heritage Month
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Happy Cinco de Mayo!
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Przewalskis horses, Hustai National Park, Mongolia
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Autumn’s swan song
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Birds and bees, and why they re so important
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A notorious advocate for women
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Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy
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Old Town Quito
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Flag Day
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The Children’s Cultural Festival in Reykjavik begins today