Sturgeon full moon to coincide with arrival of Perseids meteor shower
Rare chance to see full moon and meteor shower together
- August’s full moon, known as the Sturgeon Moon, will coincide with the annual Perseids meteor shower, offering a rare celestial event.
- The Sturgeon Moon is set to rise after 9pm BST on Saturday, 9 August, while the Perseids will reach their peak on the night of 12 or 13 August.
- Considered the year's best meteor shower, the Perseids produce 50 to 100 bright meteors per hour, often leaving long trails of light.
- Although the waning full moon will be 84 per cent full during the Perseids' peak, potentially obscuring fainter meteors, pre-dawn hours are recommended for optimal viewing.
- The UK Met Office forecasts clear skies for the full moon on Saturday, with England and Wales expected to have the best viewing conditions for the Perseids peak.