Second ‘supermoon’ seen in the skies
A perigee moon, also known as a super moon, raises over a bridge in Hong Kong Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
If the moon seemed brighter than usual overnight, it’s because it was the second so-called "supermoon" of the year.
The moon reached its perigee, the shortest distance from the Earth, at about the same time that the moon reached its full phase.
The lunar show was the second of three supermoons gracing our skies this summer with July 10 being the first and the next on Sept. 8.
There’s more to see in the skies besides the moon for the next couple of days.
The full moon coincides with the annual Perseid meteor shower. The peak of the meteor shower should last through Tuesday.
Experts say the glare from the moon will likely wash out its visibility. Fortunately, the Perseid debris field is very wide and it takes the Earth a few weeks to travel through it completely.
The next meteor shower, the Leonids, will peak on Nov. 17.
