The most exciting astronomical event of August 2015 is Perseid meteor shower. The shooting star event that peaks in mid-August will light up the night sky offering a spectacular sight for the astronomy enthusiasts. Here is a guide to all the major sky events of August 2015.
Perseid Meteor Shower: The much awaited meteor shower, Perseid peaks during Aug. 12 and 13. It is said to be one of the best meteor showers to observe shooting stars. News publication Washington Post notes that American Meteor Society states that this year about 100 meteors an hour are expected to be produced.
The shower will last until Aug. 26, 2015. The best time to observe the meteor shower is from midnight of Aug. 12 to morning of Aug. 13 from a dark location, away from city lights. Perseid is best visible in Northern Hemisphere. The meteor shower finds it origin in comet Swift-Tuttle and its radiant point lies in the constellation Perseus.
The Perseid is expected to put up a great show this year, as the narrow crescent moon remains almost invisible in the night sky.
New Moon: On Aug. 14, 2015, the New Moon will emerge. During this event, the moon is barely visible and remains positioned at the same side of the Earth as the Sun, according to Seasky.org's Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events for Calendar Year 2015. The event reaches its peak at 14:53 UTC. It is said to be the best time for sky gazers to observe various celestial objects as the moonlight remains dim.
Full Moon/Super Moon: Astronomers have already witnessed three Super Moons so far this year; the fourth will emerge on Aug. 29, 2015. According to the aforementioned website, this August Full Moon is also known as Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon, Full Strugeon Moon. The event reaches its peak at 18:35 UTC when the moon will be positioned opposite side of the Earth. As the moon comes close to Earth, it will appear bigger and brighter than usual on this day. The next Super Moon will occur on Sept. 28, 2015.