Perseid Meteor Shower 2014 Peak Battles Supermoon

Anybody who saw the weekend’s supermoon saw that it was actually kind of a super-dupermoon. If you didn’t catch it, photos of the supermoon give some indication of its brilliance.

The moon will be bright again Monday and Tuesday, but there’s a new show coming to town as the dates for the Perseid meteor shower 2014 peak arrive, overnight Tuesday and into Monday, Aug. 12 and 13.

The problem: While the Perseids has long been a reliable show, that bright moon may wash out all but the tail end of the meteor shower.

“The Perseid meteor shower is known as one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing fast and bright meteors that frequently leave trains, but in 2014, a nearly full moon will upstage the show,” says NASA, which offers this very cool video of the Perseids taken from space.

Still, you may get a glimpse of the shooting stars. Space.com recommends viewing the Perseids during the pre-dawn hours for your best shot.

“A noticeable upswing in Perseid activity is expected to begin during this week leading up to their peak night. They are typically fast, bright and occasionally leave persistent trains,” the site says. “And every once in a while, a Perseid fireball will blaze forth, bright enough to be quite spectacular and more than capable to attract attention even in bright moonlight.”

So, there’s that.

And there’s this: Your best bet, according to NASA, is to get as far away from urban light pollution as possible and find a location with a clear, unclouded view of the night sky.

“Once you get to your viewing location, search for the darkest patch of sky you can find, as meteors can appear anywhere overhead,” NASA says.

Some Perseid Meteor Shower trivia:

• Comet of Origin: 109P/Swift-Tuttle

• Radiant: constellation Perseus

• Active: July 17-Aug. 24

• Peak Activity: Aug. 12-13

• Peak Activity Meteor Count: Up to 100 meteors per hour

• Meteor Velocity: 37 miles (59 kilometers) per second

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PHOTO: The Perseid meteor shower 2014 peak dates are here. (Photo: NASA)