Venus And Jupiter Dazzle In A ‘Planet Parade’ As Perseids Peak: The Night Sky This Week
DENMARK, AUG 10 – The Perseid meteor shower peaks with an expected 60-100 meteors per hour despite moonlight, alongside a rare alignment of Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and Saturn visible before sunrise.
- On Aug. 12, Denmark’s night sky combined the Perseid meteor shower peaks with Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn visible in the early morning.
- The Perseid meteor shower runs from July 17 to Aug. 23, with a ZHR of 60–100 meteors per hour, peaking between Aug. 12 and 13, NASA reports.
- According to Mark Laurin, astronomy guide, the 84%-full moon may wash out all but the brightest meteors during the peak on Aug. 12, when about 150 shooting stars per hour are expected.
- About 45 minutes before sunrise, Venus and Jupiter will appear less than 1 degree apart, and Mercury will be visible low in the eastern sky.
- Looking ahead, NASA noted the Moon’s glare will wash out most meteors on the Geminids peak night, but skywatchers can anticipate "moon-free viewing in December.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Stargazer beware: Up to 60 meteors per hour can be discovered in the sky during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. But do weather and the almost full moon play along?
Dennis Mammana: Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks with Dawn Planetary Show
It’s time once again for the Perseid meteor shower! Meteors from this annual celestial display are remnants from the ancient comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun and deposits debris every 133 years. And it’s during mid-August that the Earth, also in its orbit around the sun, plows into these dusty remains. When any of these pieces — most smaller than a grain of sand — slam into our upper atmosphere at speeds of some 134,000 mph, they burn up…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium