                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2022 August 11

                             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
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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