As the peak of the Perseid meteor shower nears, explore the phenomena with Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber and planetary scientist Melissa Rice. They discuss the intriguing nature of shooting stars, their origins, and their actual composition—not stars but meteors.
Discover how to best view the Perseids, which will reach their peak on August 12. This year presents an ideal opportunity for meteor shower viewing.
If you’re interested in more astronomical insights, reach out with your questions at [email protected]. Support public media by joining NPR+ to enjoy benefits across 25 podcasts.
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This episode was produced and edited by Rebecca Ramirez and Gisele Grayson, with fact-checking by Katherine Sypher. Brian Jarboe and Gilly Moon handled the audio engineering.
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