Moon Will Obscure Annual Meteor Shower

Sat., Aug. 12, 2000

From Staff Reports

The annual Perseid meteor shower hits its second night of peak activity tonight, but astronomers predict the display may not dazzle.

Peak nights are early Saturday and early Sunday.

Best viewing is usually from 1 a.m. to before dawn.

This year, a near full moon will wash out visibility.

“You’ll see the big bright meteors,” said local amateur astronomer John Foster.

“The dimmer ones won’t be easily seen,” he said.

Cindy Psick, like Foster a member of the Spokane Astronomical Society, said some good viewing can be had around 3:30 a.m. early Sunday.

The bright moon sets then, leaving viewers with roughly an hour of full darkness.

Generally, 40 to 60 meteors will be seen per hour then.

Perseid meteors appear to come mostly from the constellation Perseus. It can be found under the constellation Cassiopeia.

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