Latest news with #GRANDRAPIDS
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Everything you need to know about the Perseid meteor shower
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The will start in the evening on July 17, bringing thousands of shooting stars to skies across the Northern Hemisphere. Here's everything you need to know about it. WHAT ARE THEY? happen when a group of meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere from one specific point in the sky. Once a meteoroid enters the atmosphere, it becomes a meteor. As the atmosphere eats away at them, meteors leave a trail of debris. Because of the high speeds, they appear like a bright streak of light. The Perseids, considered the most prolific meteor shower of the year, earned the name because they appear to come from the constellation Perseus. The showers happen every night until Aug. 23 and typically peak on Aug. 12. WHERE DO METEORS COME FROM? Meteors are bits of broken asteroids and leftover particles from comets. The meteors in the Perseid meteor shower come from one specific comet: . According to NASA, Swift-Tuttle takes approximately 133 years to orbit the Sun. The comet was first discovered in 1862 by astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle. Three years later, Giovanni Schiaparelli discovered that the Perseid meteors came from the comet. Swift-Tuttle last passed near Earth in 1992. It is forecasted to pass by Earth again in 2126. HOW MANY METEORS ARE THERE? Typically, the Perseids average about 25 meteors per hour, but sometimes they reach anywhere between flash in an hour. The highest rates are between 150 and 200 meteors, but that's only in 'outburst' years and when they also have low moonlight. HOW FAST ARE THEY MOVING? A typical meteoroid from the Perseids is traveling at more than 133,000 miles per hour when it hits the planet's atmosphere. Most of them are extremely small and are quickly destroyed. In rare situations, meteor fragments will make it to the ground. That's when the term changes from meteor to meteorite. The speed combined with the friction of the atmosphere drastically heats up the meteors. NASA estimates they reach upwards of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit while traversing Earth's atmosphere. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE THE PERSEIDS? Stargazing experts recommend going to the darkest possible location — dark sky parks are a great bet — and take 30 minutes or so to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark. The meteor shower typically starts around 11 p.m. and continues until dawn. The can be found in the northeast horizon and is somewhat shaped like a stick figure with a pointed head. It's usually easier to find — a brighter constellation shaped like a W. Perseus and the origin point for the Perseids will be slightly below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How outdoor athletes can stay safe in the sun
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A local doctor is reminding parents and athletes to remember the importance of sunscreen protection during their hours of baseball, tennis, basketball and other outdoor activities. Dr. Asha Shajahan is a primary care physician at Corewell Health. She said that an SPF sunscreen of at 30 is recommended for kids. 'The reason we say 30 is because a 30 SPF gives about 97% protection against the sun,' she said. 'So anything SPF 30 is good. Make sure it's water resistant and you want to apply it about 15 to 30 minutes before heading out to any kind of activity or before you're in that kind of activity.' What to look for when choosing a sunscreen Shajahan also mentioned another important step that many athletes may forget during their hours outside: reapplying sunscreen every two hours. 'I think that's the part where people kind of forget,' she said. 'They might lather it on before the game, but then throughout the game they don't really do that.' Shajahan mentioned UV glasses and lip balm as additional useful products athletes can use to protect themselves. For coaches, keeping a tent that provides shade and giving kids breaks in between playing can make a huge difference. 'What we want our coaches to do is make sure they encourage frequent water breaks,' Shajahan said. 'Because hydration is key for skin healing and keeping our kids safe also from getting dehydrated.' Shajahan pointed out several signs, such as extreme skin redness and changing moles for people to be aware of if their skin is damaged from excessive time in the sun. If a child comes home with sun burn and their skin isn't improving after using cold compresses or aloe vera, they should see a doctor, she said. 'Also, if your child has been out in the sun a lot and they have moles or changing moles that have a different kind of asymmetry to pattern,' she said. 'It's not perfectly round or it starts having different hues of brown inside the lesion, you might want to take them to your primary care doctor or to a dermatologist. To make sure it's not turning into a precancerous lesion.' Wet weather could lead to surge in mosquitoes Shajahan encourages people to enjoy themselves and to have fun in the sun, but to do so safely. 'Have a great summer. Stay out in the sun, but make sure you bring that sunscreen, wear a hat, sunglasses and stay protected,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
