The Perseid radiant point is clearly located high in the NE at 2:00 AM, EDT on the morning of 12 August, 2020. Note the 3rd quarter moon and brilliant mars to the southwest or the radiant point.
The Perseid meteor shower is an annual event that generally occurs each year during the 2nd week in August as the Earth passes through the same debris field left behind by comet Swift–Tuttle. This year the shower peaks on the morning of August 12. Unlike last year, however, the moon is at 3rd quarter and thus, will be 1/4 as bright as it was during last years shower when it was at full moon.
In this video from last year’s Perseid meteor shower event, Dr. Jim Daly of Astronomy For Change discusses the early August Night Sky, 2019 with some of the jewels of the Summer Sky, some of the prominent constellations, the Milky Way, the major planets visible (Jupiter & Saturn), the phases of the moon for August 10 – 13 along with the Perseid Meteor Shower. With the exception of the moon’s phase and the location of the planets, the sky is the same. Unlike last year, Jupiter and Saturn this year are high in the southwest at 2:00 AM on August 12.
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