Perseid Meteors vs. the Supermoon   
       
   July 28, 2014:  Every year, sky watchers and summertime campers circle on   
   their calendars a few key August nights-the 11th, 12th and 13th.  These are   
   the dates of the annual Perseid meteor shower, which rarely fails to please   
   those who see it.   
       
   This year they're adding a note: "supermoon."   
       
   During the second week of August, the biggest and brightest full Moon of the   
   year will face off against everyone's favorite meteor shower-and the outcome   
   could be beautiful.   
       
   http://youtu.be/JkKzMAzT5fs   
       
   A new ScienceCast video previews the competition between the supermoon of   
   August and the 2014 Perseid meteor shower.  Play it   
       
   The source of the Perseid meteor shower is Comet Swift Tuttle. Every 133 years   
   the huge comet swings through the inner solar system and leaves behind a trail   
   of dust and grit. When Earth passes through the debris zone, specks of   
   comet-stuff hit the atmosphere at 140,000 mph and disintegrate in flashes of   
   light. These meteors are called Perseids because they fly out of the   
   constellation Perseus.   
       
   In a normal year, dark-sky observers typically count more than 100 Perseids   
   per hour.  But this is no normal year.   
       
   On August 10, 2014, just as the Perseids are set to peak, the Moon will become   
   full. Moreover, it will become full just as it reaches the place in its orbit   
   (perigee) that is closest to Earth.  The perigee full Moon of August 10th   
   -also known as a supermoon- will be as much as 14% closer and 30% brighter   
   than other full Moons of the year.   
       
   "This is bad news for the Perseids," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid   
   Environment Office.  "Lunar glare wipes out the black-velvety backdrop   
   required to see faint meteors, and sharply reduces counts."   
       
   But there's good news, too.   
       
   http://tinyurl.com/o8m67ng   
       
   Since 2008, the Perseids have produced more fireballs than any other annual   
   meteor shower. The Geminids are a close second. See the dataThe debris stream   
   of Comet Swift-Tuttle is broad, and it is possible to see Perseids as early as   
   late July, well before the Moon becomes full.   
       
   Also, notes Cooke, "the Perseids are rich in fireballs as bright as Jupiter or   
   Venus. These will be visible in spite of the glare."   
       
   Using a network of meteor cameras distributed across the USA, Cooke's team has   
   been tracking fireball activity since 2008, and they have built up a database   
   of hundreds of events to analyze. Their data show the Perseids are the   
   undisputed 'fireball champion' of annual meteor showers.  "We see more   
   fireballs from Swift-Tuttle than any other parent comet," he says.   
       
   A warm summer night, a moonlit landscape, and an occasional fireball cutting   
   past a supermoon: that's an ensemble with a special beauty all its own. Enjoy   
   the show.   
       
   Credits:   
   Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit:   
   Science@NASA   
       
   Related video:   
       
   Summer Supermoons -- from Science@NASA   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.99   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)