Skywatchers will be treated to a visual feast next week. The Perseid meteor shower, one of the most well-known celestial events, occurs annually around this time.

It will be visible on August 12 and 13, best viewed around dawn on August 13.

This year, however, there will be one significant exception: moonlight. Last year, there was no visible moon.

The brightest meteors will be washed out by the 80 per cent lit waning gibbous moon, which will rise just before midnight on August 12 and stay high above the southern horizon until morning.

Despite the moonlight, the Perseids could still put on a splendid display.

They will appear to emanate from a point of origin — known as a radiant — situated near the star Eta Persei in the constellation Perseus, which climbs high in the summer sky in the hours leading up to dawn at this time of year.

Those new to stargazing can find the constellation with the help of a smartphone astronomy app, many of which use augmented reality technology to help pinpoint the exact locations of specific stars.

Source:Indianexpress