Above is a rendering of the comet “Veru”, from a 16th-century treatise on comets. Now known as Swift-Tuttle, the comet has been described as "the single most dangerous object known to humanity"—though chances of it hitting Earth are quite slim.
As Swift-Tuttle makes its way on its 133 year orbit, it ejects a stream of debris is called the "Perseid Cloud" (so named for appearing from the general direction of the constellation Perseus), which, upon interaction with the earth's atmosphere produces one of the most grand and glorious of annual sky events, the meteor shower known as the Perseids. Visible mid-July to late August, the Persieds generally peak August 9-14. While this year's peak just passed (August 13), prime viewing remains this weekend, especially as the moon is better positioned not to shine and obscure the meteors, as much as was the case earlier in the week.
For some further musical inspiration for getting out and finding a darkened area and gazing up at the night sky, tune into to Friday's Classical Music with Foley Schuler for special musical selections, including
"The Comet at Yell'ham" by Gerald Finzi, "The Joy of the Blood of the Stars" from Olivier Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie and "Musica Celestis" by Aaron Jay Kernis.
as well as music inspired by the figure from Greek Mythology after whom the shower (and the constellation from whose direction it appears) is named: Perseus.
You can hear Foley Schuler's musical selections—and stories behind the music—every weekday afternoon from 1 until 4 on Blue Lake Public Radio.
