On Wednesday just after you get home from work — at 8:40 p.m. to be exact — Earth and the debris left over from the Swift-Tuttle comet will reach their closest point of the year. And that means, in the lyrical description of the Moscow Planetarium, "the heavens will speak to the Earth in the language of meteors." Up to 100 "falling stars" will be seen every an hour.
This is called the Perseids meteor shower because the flashes of light seem to be coming from a spot near the constellations of Cassiopeia and Perseus. This year nature's silent fireworks display promises to be particularly good, since a full moon won't be around to ruin the show.
So pack up a blanket and the warming or cooling beverage of choice and head as far away from light as you can get, for example, to one of the city's parks. Lie down, look up and prepare to be awed.
And if it wets your appetite for more celestial adventures, go to the wonderful Moscow Planetarium.
Moscow Planetarium. 5 Ulitsa Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya, Bldg. 1. Metro Barrikadnaya. Their website is in English, as are some of the shows. planetarium-moscow.ru.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
