xkcd 3287: Perseids

alt-text: Recently I've been watching the Daytime Perseids. I haven't seen a meteor from them yet, but the clouds are pretty and the snacks are good.

#xkcd #comic #Perseids #meteorshower #aurora #stargazing #snacks #nice

Transcript (from explainxkcd:

[Megan, Cueball, and White Hat are standing in a group, with Cueball and White Hat looking at each other, and Megan standing behind Cueball.]
Cueball: I'm sad that we missed the Perseids.
White Hat: There's still the Geminids.
Cueball: Yeah, but they're in December.

[Zoom in on Cueball, who's now facing left.]
Cueball: The Perseids happen when it's warm enough to lie outside with a blanket, and we found a good mosquito-free beach. So we just lie around watching the stars and eating snacks. One year we saw the aurora.

[Zoom back out. Cueball is still facing left, and White Hat is now putting his hand to his chin in thought.]
Megan: You know, I think I heard that the Perseids might be late this year.
White Hat: Yeah, actually, I heard that too.

[Scene change to Megan, Cueball, and White Hat on the aforementioned beach during a very starry night. The sky near the horizon is grey, fading to black by the top of the panel. Megan and Cueball are both lying on mats, feet to the right. White Hat is sitting with his knees up, leaning on one arm and resting the other on his knee. Behind Megan's head is a drink cup with a bent straw, and bowls of snacks are behind the heads of the other two. A meteor is crossing the sky, toward the left.]
(Box in the top left): Later...
Megan: Hm, seems like a normal number of meteors. Guess I heard wrong.
Cueball: Maybe the Perseids are next weekend.
White Hat: Oh, good thinking. Let's come back then, just in case.