Moon may outshine Perseid meteor shower this month
By Joe Rao - Meteorologist 12 hours ago
The 2018 Perseid meteor shower seen over Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Alps.
(Image: © Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)
Skywatchers beware: the moon will hinder attempts to observe the Perseids, typically one of the best meteor displays of the year.
For Northern Hemisphere observers, August is usually regarded as "meteor month," with one of the best displays of the year reaching its peak mid-month. Unrolling a sleeping bag in the open air is a fine way to enjoy summer meteor showers, particularly the annual Perseid meteor shower, which is beloved by everyone from veteran meteor enthusiasts to summertime campers.
Unfortunately, 2020 will see a last quarter moon on the night of Aug. 11, coinciding with the peak of the Perseids, which is predicted to occur during the overnight hours of Aug. 11-12. From mid-northern latitudes, moonrise comes at around 12:15 local daylight time on Wednesday (Aug. 12). The moon will be hovering about 8 degrees below the Pleiades star cluster and not all that far from the constellation Perseus, from where the meteors will appear to emanate (hence the name "Perseid" ).
Most of these "shooting stars" would be identifiable as Perseids because their paths, extended backward along the line of flight, would intersect near a point on the Perseid-Cassiopeia border.
More:
https://www.livescience.com/bright-moon-dulls-perseid-meteor-shower-2020.html?utm_source=notification
