Posted on Aug 9, 2022
'Best meteor shower of the year' peaks this week, but something else could steal the show
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One of nature's best celestial shows is coming back this month, but a full moon might steal the show.
NASA says the Perseids have a peak of 50 to 100 meteors per hour and are known for occasional fireballs — larger and longer-lasting "explosions of light and color" that come from larger comet fragments.
The Perseids are typically active from mid-July to September, but this year they peak from Friday night to Saturday morning (Aug. 12-13). The meteors are best viewed in the hours before dawn, but they can appear as early as 10 p.m.
One problem: The full moon is on Thursday. Its bright light can outshine meteors and make all but the brightest impossible to see.
"The show's gonna be a bit muted, but still, there's enough bright meteors that you can still see enough activity by just facing away from the moon," said American Meteor Society editor Robert Lunsford.
NASA says the Perseids have a peak of 50 to 100 meteors per hour and are known for occasional fireballs — larger and longer-lasting "explosions of light and color" that come from larger comet fragments.
The Perseids are typically active from mid-July to September, but this year they peak from Friday night to Saturday morning (Aug. 12-13). The meteors are best viewed in the hours before dawn, but they can appear as early as 10 p.m.
One problem: The full moon is on Thursday. Its bright light can outshine meteors and make all but the brightest impossible to see.
"The show's gonna be a bit muted, but still, there's enough bright meteors that you can still see enough activity by just facing away from the moon," said American Meteor Society editor Robert Lunsford.
'Best meteor shower of the year' peaks this week, but something else could steal the show
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Astronomy
Posted >1 y ago
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