Google animates Perseid meteor shower 2014 in Doodle

11 Aug 2014

The Google Doodle marking the Perseid meteor shower 2014

Internet search giant Google is marking the celestial show taking place above, the Perseid meteor shower, with animated Doodle on its homepage today.

The stylised Google logo features a video, in which constellations (nearly) spell out ‘Google’. When users click on the ‘Play’ button, they are taken through meteor showers occurring against various nighttime backdrops, accompanied by music.

The annual Perseid meteor shower is now in its peak, until 13 August.

The astronomical event is the result of particles coming off the Swift-Tuttle comet as it enters the inner solar system, though the shower gets its name from the point from which it appears to come lies in the constellation Perseus.

Astronomy Ireland estimates there will be up to 20 times more shooting stars than normal during this Perseid meteor shower, averaging almost one a minute.

Tina Costanza was a journalist and sub-editor at Silicon Republic

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