@mattbranch89: The Perseids Return: A Rainbow Meteor Shower Lighting Up August Nights The Perseids are back, painting the summer sky with a flurry of shooting stars—and every meteor is a cosmic chemistry lesson. Each year, as Earth crosses the ancient dust trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle, we’re treated to one of nature’s most stunning light shows. This meteor shower peaks in mid-August (with activity from July 17 to August 24), offering up to 75 meteors per hour if you find a spot far from city lights. What makes the Perseids truly mesmerizing isn’t just the sheer number of meteors, but the rainbow of colors streaking overhead. As these tiny fragments plunge into our atmosphere at over 130,000 miles per hour, they burn up in bright flashes red, yellow-gold, violet, orange, and blue-green. Each color tells us exactly what elements the meteors contain: red for oxygen and nitrogen, yellow-gold for iron, violet for calcium, orange for sodium, and blue-green for magnesium. It’s like watching the universe itself set off fireworks, each spark revealing a secret from deep space. So, grab a blanket, head out under dark skies, and let your eyes adjust. Whether you catch a handful or a whole cascade, the Perseids are a spectacular reminder of the wonders just above us no telescope required. Credit: Based on astronomical guides and current NASA science on the Perseid meteor shower and meteor colors.

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