英仙座流星雨与神奇望远镜

2022年8月11日

Perseids and MAGIC
Image Credit & Copyright: Urs Leutenegger

Explanation: On August 11, 2021 a multi-mirror, 17 meter-diameter MAGIC telescope reflected this starry night sky from the Roque de los Muchachos European Northern Observatory on the Canary Island of La Palma. MAGIC stands for Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov. The telescopes can see the brief flashes of optical light produced in particle air showers as high-energy gamma rays impact the Earth’s upper atmosphere. To the dark-adapted eye the mirror segments offer a tantalizing reflection of stars and nebulae along the plane of our Milky Way galaxy. But directly behind the segmented mirror telescope, low on the horizon, lies the constellation Perseus. And on that date the dramatic composite nightscape also captured meteors streaming from the radiant of the annual Perseid meteor shower. This year the Perseid shower activity will again peak around August 13 but perseid meteors will have to compete with the bright light of a Full Moon.

Tomorrow’s picture: Portrait of the Eagle Nebula

英仙座流星雨与神奇望远镜
影像提供与版权: Urs Leutenegger

说明: 2021年8月11日，隶属于加那利群岛拉帕尔马岛欧北天文台穆查丘斯罗克天文台的多镜片17米口径的神奇望远镜（MAGIC），正在反映这片夜空。MAGIC是大型大气伽马射线成像切伦科夫望远镜的英文简称。当高能伽马射线撞击地球的高层大气时，这座望远镜可以看到粒子空气簇射所产生的短暂闪光。对于适应黑暗后的眼睛来说，分格镜面精采的反映了我们银河系盘面附近的恒星和星云。而在拍照时，这幅迷人的夜空影像，也记录了起源自英仙流星雨辐射点的流星。今年的英仙座流星雨的极大期在8月13日左右，不过到时候，英仙座流星得与明亮满月的月光争辉。

明日的图片: Portrait of the Eagle Nebula