Perseus was the greatest of Greek heroes; a demigod son of
Zeus. He beheaded the gorgon, Medusa, and rescued Andromeda from a sea serpent.
Perseus married Andromeda, and their union produced seven powerful sons who
were called the Perseidai. Like every self-respecting Greek hero, Perseus is
commemorated with a constellation. You can find him in the night sky between Aries
and Taurus to the south and Cassiopeia to the north. Perseus is prominent (from
the northern hemisphere, at least) in the early spring, but the meteor shower
named for his sons occurs in late summer. The Perseids have been going on for
some time – I’ve actually glimpsed a few shooting stars already. But the peak
of activity is just beginning now, with as many as sixty meteors visible per
hour. The bad news? You’re much more likely to catch the Perseids in action by
waking up in the pre-dawn darkness than you are by staying up late.
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