Plan a campout for Perseid meteor showers
SKYWATCHING -- Camping high in the mountains away from lights-- perhaps in forest fire lookout rental -- is a peak way to enjoy the free light show in the sky, which will peak this year between Aug. 10 and 13.
The annual Perseid meteor shower is gearing up.
This may not be the best year for viewing the Perseids because of bright moonlight and the smoke from wildfires in the region. But at peak levels the Perseids can produce a show of more than 50 meteors an hour to keep you up late.
Actually, sleep tight and get up early. Astronomers say the best viewing is in the dark hours before dawn.
- Some of the action will be washed out this year by a bright supermoon in the sky on the night of August 10 (morning of August 11). It’s not just any supermoon but the closest and brightest supermoon of 2014. According to NASA, this August 10 moon will be 30% brighter than most full moons of 2014.
Although the meteors appear to come from Perseus, they actually are part of a debris trail left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which the Earth encounters every August.
See more info on the EarthSky website.
