Science

Supermoon lights up sky amid meteor shower

Stargazers enjoy dramatic perigree lunar event as enthusiasts take snapshots

The moon, known as the perigee moon or supermoon, looks much larger and brighter than usual during this period, as it was only 356,896 kilometers away from the Earth when it arrived at its perigee early on Monday morning. Video: Reuters

Mon Aug 11 2014 - 09:58

A "supermoon" lit up the sky across Ireland and many parts of the world last night as stargazers enjoyed the Perseid meteor shower - one of the year's most dramatic lunar events.

The moon appeared 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than normal as it reached the point in its orbit closest to the Earth, known as ‘perigee’.

Many enthusiasts grabbed their mobile phones to take a snapshot of the spectacle, which comes two days before the meteor shower reaches its peak.

Image 1 of 3

A view of the ‘supermoon’, or perigee moon, rising behind The Shard building in London. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Given a dark, clear sky in a normal year, it is common to see more than 100 of the meteors an hour during the second week in August.

READ MORE

Dr Bill Cooke from the American space agency Nasa’s Meteoroid Environment Office, said the luminous “supermoon” risked drowning out the meteor shower.

“Lunar glare wipes out the black-velvety backdrop required to see faint meteors, and sharply reduces counts,” he said.

Dr Cooke added that the Perseids were also “rich in fireballs as bright as Jupiter or Venus” that would remain visible despite the moon’s glare.

A study conducted by his team since 2008 has shown the Perseids to be the undisputed “fireball champion” of meteor showers.

“We see more fireballs from Swift-Tuttle than any other parent comet,” said Dr Cooke.

Every 133 years, comet Swift-Tuttle swings through the inner Solar System leaving behind a trail of dust.

When the Earth passes through, the dust cloud particles hit the atmosphere at 140,000 m/ph (225,000 k/ph) and burn up in streaking flashes of light, creating the spectacle known as the Perseids.

The meteors will be visible until Wednesday, with activity peaking tomorrow.

An unusually bright full “supermoon” was also seen on July 12th, and is due to appear again on September 9th.

Supermoons occur relatively frequently, usually every 13 months and 18 days, but are not always noticed because of clouds or poor weather.

PA

Did you take a snap of last night's supermoon? Send us your photograph to news@irishtimes.com

LATEST STORIES