Filenews 7 August 2025
The impressive Perseid astronomical phenomenon culminates on the weekend of August 12 and 13, 2025, offering sky lovers the opportunity to observe dozens of shooting stars every hour as Earth crosses the orbit of Comet Swift-Tuttle.
As astrophysicist Chrysanthos Fakas explains, the Perseid phenomenon began on July 17 and will last until August 24, culminating next Tuesday and Wednesday. The radiant point from which the shooting stars appear to come is in the northeastern sky, and observation is indicated after 11 p.m., when the point rises higher in the sky.

On both days (August 12 and 13) the Moon will be in the night sky.
This year the August Full Moon will be on August 9 and will be called the sturgeon moon, after the homonymous fish that the natives of North America fished at that time, according to an old name that has been preserved from the synodal calendar.
Perseids, as Mr. Fakas mentions, are created when the Earth meets the remnants of Comet Swift-Tuttle and enters its atmosphere. The dust grains gain high speed and become incandescent due to friction, creating bright lines in the sky, the well-known "shooting stars". If they are not completely annihilated and reach the ground, then they are called meteorites. Extremely bright phenomena are called bullets.

On the occasion of the peak of the phenomenon, the Cyprus Astronomical Society (ASTRAC), the Kition Planetarium & Observatory, the Faka Tutorial Observatory and the Community Council of Kyperounta are organizing an astronomical evening on Tuesday 12 August in the courtyard of the Holy Church of Agios Arsenios in Kyperounta. The event will last from 21:00 to 23:00 and admission will be free.
During the event, attendees will be able to observe the Perseids, the Moon, the constellation of Scorpio and the red Antaris, as well as the stone-built Solar Astronomical Clock of the temple. The organizers invite those who have telescopes to bring them with them and suggest that the public have warm clothes, due to the expected low temperature.