The Tears of St Lawrence over Day Farm

D H Day Farm … perseid meteor shower by Ken Scott Photography

Space.com has an interesting story about how the Perseid Meteor shower (happening now, peaking August 13) came to be known as “The Tears of St. Lawrence” and also some of the science behind this annual August sky show:

Laurentius, a Christian deacon, is said to have been martyred by the Romans in 258 AD on an iron outdoor stove. It was in the midst of this torture that Laurentius cried out: “I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other.”

The saint’s death was commemorated on his feast day, Aug. 10. King Phillip II of Spain built his monastery place the “Escorial,” on the plan of the holy gridiron. And the abundance of shooting stars seen annually between approximately Aug. 8 and 14 have come to be known as St. Lawrence’s “fiery tears.”

…We know today that these meteors are actually the dross of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Discovered back in 1862, this comet takes approximately 130 years to circle the Sun. With each pass, it leaves fresh debris — mostly the size of sand grains with a few peas and marbles tossed in.

Every year during mid-August, when the Earth passes close to the orbit of Swift-Tuttle, the bits and pieces ram into our atmosphere at approximately 37 miles per second (60 kps) and create bright streaks of light.

More including viewing tips at Space.com. & be sure to check out our new Leelanau Starwatching page for latest celestial happenings!

Ken Scott captured these Perseid meteors in August 2015 over a 2 1/2 hour period at the D.H. Day Farm in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. He says that the barn is lit by rogue lightning and that this is a composite of many meteor images, where each photo is rotated around the north star so that the ‘point of origin’ of the shower can be seen better. Get the latest on the Ken Scott Photography Facebook & view and purchase his work at kenscottphotogrsphy.com.

He also shared a great video from here that includes clips from Suttons Bay, Peshawbestown, Northport, and South end of Lake Leelanau.