Residents share spectacular views of meteors and aurora: If you missed out, you’ll still have one more chance | Business

August 11-12 the night sky was carved by the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.

However, according to Vilnius University (VU) astrophysicist dr. According to Vidos Dobrovolsko, the stream is so active that meteors could be seen on August 10-11. at night

In Lithuania, there was no shortage of people who observed this phenomenon and shared the impressive images they captured.

Ludos Baron’s photo/Perseides meteor shower in Trakai

Some were lucky enough to see the aurora last night.

Kristė photo/Pašvaistė Akmenė district.

Tomas Urnikis 15min said he observed the sky when he was a few kilometers from the city, so everything was brighter. And although the aurora was indeed better seen by taking a picture of the sky with his phone, he also saw it with his own eyes.

The man also pointed out that while observing the aurora, he saw pillars of light, layering. This can be seen in the photo he took.

Photo of Tomas Urnikis/Pašvaistė, Telšiai district.

According to V. Dobrovolsko, some could actually see the lights tonight, because the Earth was hit by a geomagnetic storm. A few solar coronal mass ejections happened a few days ago and they hit us over the weekend. The first one hit the planet on Saturday, but it didn’t cause a stronger storm, but later ones caused a geomagnetic storm.

Why were the pillars of light visible when observing the aurora?

“It’s like visualizing the Earth’s magnetic field. If we spread steel filings on paper and put a magnet under the paper, the filings would line up.

Those energetic particles from the Sun, because they have a charge, they are protons, electrons, can travel along the lines of the magnetic field the easiest, this is the easiest way for them to move. In this way, those pillars and curtains are made. And the aurora helps us visually see what the Earth’s magnetic field looks like,” – 15min commented V. Dobrovolskas.

One more chance

Those who missed the Perseid meteor shower will have another chance to see them tonight, August 12-13. at night Only, of course, fewer meteors will be visible than during the peak.

In addition, according to V. Dobrovolsko, if the geomagnetic storm does not subside, it is possible that the aurora will be visible on the night from Monday to Tuesday.

The Perseid meteor shower can be observed every year. This occurs when the Earth’s orbit crosses the path of an old Comet Swift and Tuttle, sending small remnants of the comet into the Earth’s atmosphere.