This year August 10, 2014 Google have created a YouTube video for their announcement of the Perseid Meteor Shower 2014. The video showcase the spectacular Perseid Meteor Shower that happens in August every year. The Perseid Meteor Shower is one of the most anticipated events every year for astronomers and stargazers. It seems like Google love them so much that they have created a second “Perseid Meteor Shower” Google Doodle. The previous one was in August 12, 2009.
Image of the Perseid Meteor Shower 2009 Google Doodle
According to the Google Doodle site they wanted to once again focus people’s attention on the “Perseid Meteor Shower” in the hopes that people will learn more about this spectacular event that takes place in the evening skies during August.
Unlike the previous Google Doodle, this year’s Perseid Meteor Shower doodle is a video animation showing the spectacular scenes recorded and photographed of previous Perseid Meteor Showers. The Doodler responsible for the Perseid Meteor Shower 2014 Doodle Sophie Diao had the following to say about this year’s doodle.
What inspired the look and feel of your animation? It definitely has a more ambient, soothing quality compared to some of the quirkier doodles we’ve seen.
I was inspired by long drives I’ve taken and trips to national parks, as well as by the subject matter –space! One of my favorite road trip memories is driving up the Pacific Coast Highway near Big Sur and pulling over to observe the stars. The visual spectacle in front of you, combined with being “in the middle of nowhere,” definitely evokes some type of feeling.
Did you do manage to see any shooting stars during your research phase?
Not in person – but the research phase was really fun! Most of my research involved watching actual time-lapse footage of previous meteor showers. In my reading, I learned that meteors appear to “radiate” from a central point but that you can see them all across the sky (Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, from which they get their name). However, every once in a while, a meteoroid will become separated from the stream, and enter our atmosphere at a different angle. There are also other smaller meteor showers that happen at the same time at the Perseids. I tried to pay homage to these “loners” by throwing a few of them in the video – you’ll see that they appear to come from other angles in the sky.
The music is cool. How’d you score that (pun intended)?
The music was composed by Niko Leiva. The track was inspired by the mountains of Bolivia, but I think its contemplative mood fits the sky just as nicely. You can hear more of his work here.
What do you hope users will get out of watching the video?
Best case scenario: I hope it inspires people to go out and see the meteor shower for themselves! But at the very least, be reminded that there’s a meteor shower going on right above us, and that the universe is amazing!
What makes the Perseid Meteor Shower 2014 so Spectacular
This year the Perseid Meteor Shower should happen at the same time as Super Moon coincidentally, it will also have reached the point in its orbit that is closest to the Earth, known as perigee. The supermoon will be up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons during the year.
Although this will clashes with the “Shooting Stars” usually seen, it will still be spectacular and if you want to see it at its best, you will probably need to be out there before the moon have risen.
