Italians are gearing to gaze skywards
Saturday night for the annual beloved tradition of viewing the
spectacle of the 'Night of the Shooting Stars' Perseid meteor
shower, also known as the Notte di San Lorenzo as the faithful
believe the darting space dust represents the tears of Catholic
martyr St Lawrence when he was burned alive on a blazing
gridiron on the 10th of August 258 CE.
But the annual heavenly show is due to reach its peak in Italy
on the night of August 12-13, and not August 10, astronomers
said this week.
The Perseid shower occurs as Earth crosses the orbital path of
the Swift-Tuttle comet and debris slams into the upper
atmosphere, lighting up the night sky.
Events have been organised up and down the country for the
occasion.
The shower was also the backdrop to a hit auteur film by Paolo
and Vittorio Taviani in 1982.
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