August's full moon likely to outshine Perseid meteor shower this year, NASA astronomer says



The August full moon is expected to overshadow the Perseid meteor shower, one of the most anticipated and well-liked night sky displays of the year.

One of the most powerful meteor showers, the Perseids, occurs every year between July 14 and September 1. Since the full moon's brilliant light will make it difficult to observe the meteors hurtling through the night sky, this year's meteor shower will peak on August 12 and 13.

Bill Cooke, a NASA scientist who oversees the Meteoroid Environment Office at the space agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, stated in a statement that "unfortunately, this year's Perseids peak will see the worst conceivable circumstances for spotters" (opens in new tab). In North America, the majority of us would typically view 50 to 60 meteors per hour, but this year, at the regular peak, the full Moon would only allow for 10 to 20 per hour at most.

According to a NASA statement, the moon is significantly brighter than anything else in the night sky and will obliterate all but the very brightest Perseid meteors when they flash into our atmosphere and burn up high in the sky.

The Comet Swift-Tuttle, which last came within striking distance of Earth in 1992, left behind chunks of ice and rock that Earth must travel through in order to see the Perseids. Swift-Tuttle, a comet that circles the sun every 133 years, won't pass in our area again until 2125.

The biggest object known to periodically fly by Earth is Comet Swift-Tuttle, which is around 16 miles (26 kilometers) wide. The Perseid meteor shower has been observed since medieval Europe, when it was known as "the Tears of St. Lawrence" after the final of seven Roman church deacons who were executed by the emperor Valerian in August of the year 258.

— This summer, there are expected to be six meteor showers that provide greater vistas than the Perseids.

But it wasn't until 1862 that the comet was found by two separate astronomers, Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle. As a result, Cooke stated in the release, "how far back Perseid sightings truly go is a source of considerable controversy."

Around August 21–22, the Perseids will start to fade, and by September 1, they will be totally gone. Even if the Perseids aren't likely to peak this year, there is still a possibility to view a few "shooting stars" on the days before or following August 12. For the best chance of seeing meteors, try to locate a dark viewing area away from artificial light between midnight and sunrise. There are also a few opportunities to see other meteor showers later in August, when the moon's brightness won't be as disruptive, if you miss seeing the Perseids.

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