The cosmic origin story
The radiant point illusion
The myth of the hero
Tears and science through time
YOUR GOAL
Master of Why we name August's meteors after Perseus
sonia The Radiant Point Illusion
We are moving through parallel lines in the night, but they seem to meet right in Perseus' light
sonia The Perseid radiant is located within the northern constellation named after the Greek hero Perseus.
sonia Trace the meteor trails backward to discover why they seem to start in Perseus.
Radiant illusion: Just like driving through a snowstorm makes snowflakes seem to emerge from a single point, Earth's motion creates the meteor radiant.
The point in the sky from which a meteor shower appears to originate. This apparent origin lies in the constellation Perseus, giving the annual August meteor shower its name.
If a meteor shower had its radiant in the constellation Orion, what would it be named?
Which nearby, W-shaped constellation helps stargazers locate the constellation Perseus?
What term do astronomers use for the single point in the sky where meteors appear to originate?
In which direction should stargazers look to find the constellation Perseus rising after midnight in August?