This is the final supermoon of 2022, coinciding with the most spectacular night of the Perseids meteor shower originating from the constellation Perseus.
According to the measurement tools from Time and Date, the full moon in August will reach its absolute fullness at 8:35 AM on August 12th, Vietnam time, which means we will be able to admire the most beautiful supermoon tonight.
CNN reports that NASA’s calculations indicate the Moon will approach very close to Earth on its elliptical orbit, only 363,300 km away at the peak moment. Therefore, the full moon will appear significantly larger and more beautiful.
A supermoon rising over the Washington Monument – (Photo: NASA)
The best time to observe a supermoon is usually at sunset when optical conditions combine to create the “moon illusion”, making the moon appear larger than it actually is as it rises in the twilight sky. The “moon illusion” combined with the naturally large supermoon will provide a spectacular view.
Coincidentally, tonight is also the peak night of the Perseids meteor shower, one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year, with Time and Date estimating that the number of meteors can reach up to 100 meteors per hour.
The Perseids meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the dust and debris trail of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle annually, lasting from July 17 to August 24 this year. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, which is why they are named Perseids.
The Perseids meteor shower will radiate from the yellow cross on the constellation map – (Photo: SKY & TELESCOPE)
However, with this special supermoon night, the Moon will “steal” the meteor shower, as described by astronomers, since the brightness of the Moon is many times brighter than the meteors. As a result, the meteor shower will appear fainter.
This might be disappointing news for meteor shower enthusiasts; however, you can wait a few days until the Moon’s brightness diminishes to observe the Perseids more clearly. Given that this is a major meteor shower, it will still be beautiful in the days leading up to and following the peak.
