Wildfire smoke has made for some hazy days, but the night sky this week will be filled with activity. Each year, the Perseid meteor shower peaks during the second week of August. On the night of August 12th and 13th, this year's peak lines up perfectly with the new moon. While moonlight can sometimes spoil the show, this year will be completely moon free and could have the best viewing conditions in nearly 20 years. While the peak is typically the night of the 12th, the meteor shower continues all week. Also occuring on August 12th, a total solar eclipse. Sorry Montana, this will not be visible in Big Sky Country or anywhere in America. The path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Russia. Guess what also happens on August 12th? Six planets will once again create a rare alignment. Mercury, mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will all appear to fall into line. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. You'll need a telescope to see the others. And this just in...The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has just issued a geomagnetic storm watch for the northern lights on......Yup, august 12th. So if you're into the zodiac, the lottery, or just an avid night sky watcher, this is your week. I'm meteorologist Curtis Grevenitz, and now you're a little more Weatherwise.
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