Perspectives
From the Magic of a Shooting Star
There's something magical about watching a shooting star streak across the sky. As children, we lay in the garden during summer with sleeping bags and blankets, determined to stay awake and eagerly search for those tiny bursts of light. As adults, we rarely gaze up at the night sky. The joy is even greater considering that the universe, billions of light-years away, reveals something so enchanting – a brief sparkle from a world usually hidden from us.
Shooting Stars as Symbols of Luck
In many cultures, shooting stars are considered omens of good luck. In ancient Greece, it was believed that shooting stars were the tears of the gods. Many cultures still hold the belief that they can grant wishes. To ensure the wish comes true, it's said that it must be made quickly in your mind and never revealed before the shooting star fades away.
The stories and myths surrounding shooting stars are as diverse as the cultures they come from. However, they all share a fascination for this phenomenon and the hope that these fleeting lights bring a bit of the universe's magic to Earth. You just need to believe a little!
Stars vs Meteors
What many don’t know: shooting stars actually have little to do with the bright objects we see as stars in the deep, dark night sky. They are actually meteors – small particles from space, like rocks or dust, that enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speed and burn up. These particles usually come from comets or asteroids and are often only a few millimeters in size. The brief glow in the sky is caused by the friction and heat generated as they travel through the atmosphere – and we, quite amazed, exclaim, “Oh, look, a shooting star!”.
A Shooting Star rarely Comes Alone
When a multitude of shooting stars is visible within a short period, it is called a meteor shower, such as the Perseids in August or the Geminids in December. The Perseid shower in August is particularly known for its high activity and bright meteors. Each year in mid-August, the Earth passes through the dust and particle cloud of the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle: During this time, up to 100 meteors per hour can be seen, making the Perseid shower one of the most spectacular celestial events of the year.
Watching Shooting Stars: Here's How!
This is the perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of a shooting star – and, of course, make a wish! Find a secluded and dark spot, far from the bright city lights, and bring a large, cosy blanket to make yourself comfortable. Whether it’s a vast field on the outskirts of the city, somewhere in the countryside, or on the terrace of one of our cabins (comfortable lounge chairs and blankets are provided there too!), lie back and look up. With a bit of patience, since shooting stars often appear in bursts, you might have to wait a few minutes for a meteor shower to become visible – just enough time to enjoy the anticipation and relive the thrilling, expectant feeling from childhood. And perhaps it’s a reminder to make more room for this feeling in our adult lives, too.
P.S: They say that wishes made during the Perseid shower have a greater chance of coming true.
