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posted by janrinok on Sunday August 14 2016, @11:49PM   Printer-friendly
from the oooh,-aaah dept.

BBC News reports on an ESA essay (PDF), Spacecraft risk posed by the 2016 Perseid outburst. The essay warned of

[...] enhanced activity on a level similar to that of 2009 as the Earth passes through several debris trails on the night of August 11-12 (UT).

[...] the projected kinetic energy weighted Perseid flux at the time of the strongest maximum is only increased by 50% above that of the normal sporadic background [...]

[...] the 2016 Perseids exhibited above average activity for over half a day, from late UTC on August 11 to just past the middle of August 12.

The BBC explains that this means the Earth was predicted to pass "through a particularly distinct bit of debris" that had been deflected by Jupiter. The meteor strikes have been taking place since mid-July and are expected to continue through the weekend.

additional coverage:


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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Dunbal on Monday August 15 2016, @03:28AM

    by Dunbal (3515) on Monday August 15 2016, @03:28AM (#388076)

    The space rocks that would kill you will still kill you through your helmet, although it might make it more convenient for whoever has to scoop up bits of your brain and face from the ground.

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