Perseids, Solar Eclipse, And Blood Moon Highlight August Skywatching In New Hampshire

Skywatchers have a busy week, with the Perseids meteor shower, a partial solar eclipse and a deep partial lunar eclipse all on the calendar.

As long as skies are clear, the Perseids meteor shower is expected to peak overnight Aug. 12 to Aug. 13, when a new moon should leave skies completely dark for people away from city lights.

The Perseids have been active since July 17. Under clear, dark skies, around 100 meteors or more an hour may be visible. The report states the shower is especially popular because it arrives when many people are already outside in backyards, at campgrounds, on docks and on summer vacations, and because it is known for bright meteors, occasional fireballs and lingering trains.

Massachusetts is also in the viewing path for a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, Aug. 12. The start of the partial eclipse is at 12:59 p.m. and the end is at 2:49 p.m. Some people in the northeastern United States may see up to about 15 percent of the sun covered between 1:53 and 1:55 p.m.

Officials warn not to look directly at the sun without approved solar eclipse glasses since lack of eye protection can cause retina damage.

Later in the month, a deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible across the United States. The report says about 96 percent of the moon will pass through Earth’s dark shadow, or umbra, making it one of the stronger moon shows of the year even though it will not be a total eclipse.

For viewers in Eastern states, the eclipse will peak after midnight on Aug. 28. The moon will begin entering Earth’s darker shadow at 10:33 p.m. on Aug. 27, reach maximum eclipse at 12:42 a.m. and leave the shadow by 1:52 a.m. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is safe to watch without special glasses.

The report notes that a few stray meteors from the Delta Aquariids meteor shower, which continues through Aug. 21, may also be visible during Perseids viewing. For residents hoping to see any of August’s sky events, the forecast may matter as much as the timing. Clear skies and a darker viewing spot will offer the best chance to catch the month’s biggest celestial displays.