The best meteor shower of the year will be happening the nights of August 11th and 12th, and some skywatchers are concerned that this spectacular display may be obscured by the phenomenon known as the supermoon. What is a supermoon, you ask? It’s when a full moon occurs at its closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit, making it seem larger than normal in the night sky.
What is a Supermoon?
A supermoon is a moon that is full when it is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. This makes it appear larger and brighter than a regular full moon. The best meteor shower of the year, the Perseids, will peak on August 12th. Unfortunately, this year's supermoon may diminish views of the meteor shower.
Why Does a Supermoon Affect Seeing Meteors?
When the moon is full, it's said to be at its perigee, or closest point to Earth in its orbit. And when a full moon occurs at or near perigee, we get what's called a supermoon. The word is thrown around a lot these days, but supermoons aren't all that rare. In fact, there have been six so far this year.
How to Observe the Lyrids Even with a Full Moon
The Lyrids are one of the best meteor showers of the year. The shower is active from April 16-25, with peak activity on the night of April 22/23. Even though there will be a bright full moon this year, you can still see some meteors. Here are some tips
Tips for Shooting Photos of the Night Sky
The Geminids are typically one of the best meteor showers of the year, but this year's supermoon may diminish views. Here are some tips for getting the best photos of the night sky, supermoon or not
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