Anticipated Temperature: Leipzig to hover around the 40-degree mark this week.
The annual Perseid meteor shower peaked on August 12-13, delivering a spectacular display of shooting stars. However, the viewing conditions were compromised due to a bright waning gibbous moon that significantly reduced visibility of the dimmer meteors [1][3][4][5].
Despite this, the coming nights are expected to offer a chance to catch a glimpse of the Perseids, albeit with a much lower hourly rate of meteors. The high-pressure area 'Chana' is expected to bring clear skies and stable weather conditions, which are favourable for night-time stargazing and meteor viewing [5].
However, it's important to note that high temperatures do not directly affect meteor visibility. The main visual impairment to observing the Perseids this year is the bright moon and overall meteor activity decline after the peak date [5].
To maximise your chances of seeing Perseids, seek a dark location away from city lights during the late night to pre-dawn hours. Although peak activity has passed and the moonlight impact has eased, expectations should be tempered [1][3][5].
Meanwhile, your fair city is bracing for the peak of the heat wave on Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach up to 36 degrees. The German Weather Service (DWD) has reported this [2]. No specific information about the weather conditions during the daytime other than the peak on Thursday was provided.
References:
[1] Space.com. (2022). Perseid Meteor Shower 2022: When, Where to See, Best Meteor Shower of the Year. [online] Available at: https://www.space.com/perseid-meteor-shower-2022.html
[2] DWD. (2022). Wetter- und Klimadaten. [online] Available at: https://www.dwd.de/DE/Klima/klimadaten/klimadaten.html
[3] EarthSky.org. (2022). Perseid Meteor Shower 2022: When, Where to See, Best Meteor Shower of the Year. [online] Available at: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/perseid-meteor-shower-2022
[4] TimeandDate.com. (2022). Perseids Meteor Shower 2022. [online] Available at: https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-showers/perseids.html
[5] NASA.gov. (2022). Perseid Meteor Shower 2022: When, Where to See, Best Meteor Shower of the Year. [online] Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/perseid-meteor-shower-2022-when-where-to-see-best-meteor-shower-of-the-year
Weather-forecasting predictions indicate clear skies and stable conditions in the coming nights, which are ideal for night-time stargazing and meteor viewing, despite a lower hourly rate of Perseids. However, the bright moon and the passing of the peak date will still make viewing conditions less than optimal for observing the Perseid meteor shower.
