Sun Ejects 3 Filaments, Sending 1 Earth-Directed CME Toward Aug. 11-12 Arrival

Q: Could the brilliant glow of a severe geomagnetic storm actually wash out the Perseid meteor shower for eager skywatchers?

Probably not for most viewers, though a strong aurora could reduce visibility of the faintest Perseids in places directly under the brightest glow. The key reason is that aurora usually brightens only part of the sky, most often the northern horizon or northern half of the sky at mid-latitudes, rather than flooding the whole dome with light the way a full moon does. The Perseids are also a bright, fast shower that often produces fireballs, and this year’s peak comes under a new moon, so there is no lunar glare competing with them. If the incoming CME arrives around Aug. 11–12 as forecast and geomagnetic conditions reach G2 or G3, the main effect for skywatchers at high latitudes would be contrast loss. Fainter meteors could disappear against a bright auroral curtain, especially if you are looking north. But brighter Perseids should still punch through, and many observers could see both phenomena at once. Where the aurora is strongest matters most. In Alaska, northern Canada, Scandinavia and similar high-latitude regions, an active aurora may noticeably cut meteor counts in the affected part of the sky. Farther south, if auroras appear at all, they are more likely to be low on the horizon and less disruptive. The best tactic is simple: face away from the brightest aurora, look higher overhead or toward the darker southern sky, and observe after midnight through dawn. Under dark, moonless skies, the Perseids should still perform well even if the northern lights join the show.

3 articles · Updated · spaceweather.com · Aug 10

At least three solar filaments erupted, and coronagraph images from NOAA's GOES-19 indicate one faint halo CME is apparently headed toward Earth.
An Aug. 11-12 arrival could bring a direct hit plus a possible glancing blow from another CME, raising the chance of high-latitude auroras during the Perseid meteor shower.
Earth is already in a moderate G2 geomagnetic storm on Aug. 8 after passing through the magnetized wake of a near-miss CME, with conditions that could still strengthen to G3.
The new eruptions mark an early boost to northern aurora viewing as Arctic skies darken again after months of summer twilight.