A guide to August’s lunar eclipse and the Perseids Meteor Shower
Keep your fingers crossed for clear nights and get ready for a collection of treats from the skies. There are no fewer than five events to look forward to in August.
And while we’re not in the best position to see them all from the North-east, there will be fascinating live feeds to enjoy.
There are two eclipses and a meteor shower bringing up to 60 shooting stars every hour to look forward to, as this guide by Cornwall Live explains.
The Full Sturgeon Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse – August 7
The August full moon was nicknamed The Full Sturgeon Moon in America as it symbolized the perfect time of year to fish for sturgeons.
On the same evening, we will be able to see part of the lunar eclipse between 7.30pm and 8 pm.
NASA will broadcast a three-hour live stream of the event for those of us not lucky enough to see it first hand.
The live stream will air between 6 pm and 9 pm on NASA TV.
Perseids Meteor Shower – August 11 to August 12
Although the shower has been running for a couple of weeks, the best time to view the amazing display is on the night of August 11 and in the early hours of August 12.
The best way to view the natural show will be by heading to a dark location away from light pollution in the early hours of August 12 – that’s a week on Saturday.
The New Moon and Partial Solar Eclipse – August 21
At around 8 pm on August 21, the moon will move between the sun and the earth. The best place to see this will be in North America, which will experience its first full solar eclipse for more than 50 years.
Once again, NASA will broadcast it live, using images taken from 11 spacecraft. You can find out more information here.
Read more at Gazette Live