Skywatchers Watch the Perseid meteor showers by the light of Supermoon August 2022

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The meteoric activity is generated in the Northeast sky with the radiant point close to the Perseus constellation. It has a distinctive shape. It is surrounded by bright stars in the Andromeda to the west, Cassiopeia to the North, and Capella constellation on the east side.

The Supermoon shines bright

The August Supermoon is also known as the Sturgeon Moon.  It was named by the Native American tribes for the sturgeon fish of the Great Lakes. It has also been called the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon.

 A Supermoon is a full moon that coincides with a perigee when the Earth’s orbit is closest to the moon. And it makes the Moon appear brighter and larger than a normal full moon. A supermoon can show up as much as 14% larger and 30% brighter.

Keep your binoculars handy on August 11th and 12th.

Skywatchers events

  • August 1st The month begins with Mars in conjunction with Uranus. And it will pass 1.4° to its south. 
  • August 11th Supermoon alert! Expect the Full Sturgeon Moon to brighten the night sky.
  • August 12th and 13th This is the peak of the annual Perseid meteor showers. The bright light of the Supermoon may make some of the meteors more difficult to see.

Try to avoid looking directly at the supermoon when viewing the meteor showers. You need your eyes adapted to the dark as much as possible. Look for streaks in the nighttime sky starting at 10 p.m. till dawn.