Monday, August 12, 2013

"Good Night, Moon"

The Waxing Crescent 

5 days old

25.7 percent lit

With little moonshine, it will be perfect in more places to view the meteor shower.

August 11, 2013
Hundreds of fireballs (click here) and shooting stars will dart across the sky over the next two nights, putting on a spectacular light show for stargazers. The annual Perseid meteor shower is considered to be one of Mother Nature’s most dazzling celestial displays.
According to NASA, around 90 to 100 bright and colorful meteors can be seen per hour during the meteor shower’s peak, which will take place August 11-12.
As with all meteor showers, the rate is greatest in the pre-dawn hours. Stargazers are expecting an especially impressive show this year because the waxing crescent moon will set early – allowing even the fainter meteors to be seen.
This dazzling annual phenomenon happens when the Earth crosses paths with a trail of debris left over by the Swift-Tuttle comet....