2017最期待天象：11日凌晨年度最大圆月！

A dramatic supermoon is set to accompany this year’s Perseid meteor shower, one of the most anticipated events on the skywatcher’s calendar.

2017年度最大圆月，将和天文爱好者十分期待的英仙座流星雨同时出现。

Given a dark, clear sky in a normal year, it is common to see more than 100 of the meteors an hour during the second week in August.

在以往年份里，8月的第二周、只要找到一片澄澈的夜空，就可以看到每小时100多个流星。

But this year the Perseids have a bright shining rival - a larger and brighter moon.

但今年英仙座遇到了强劲对手——年度最大圆月。

On Sunday, two days before the meteor shower reaches its peak, the moon will become full.

周日距离英仙座流星雨高峰还有两天，而超级月亮将迎来圆月。

Coincidentally, it will also have reached the point in its orbit that is closest to the Earth, known as 'perigee'.

巧合的是，最大圆月也将到达到距地球最近距离、即人们所知的“近地点”。

The supermoon will be up to 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than other full moons during the year.

本次超级月亮将比其它月份圆月大14%、亮度提高30%。

The best time to see the meteors is between Saturday and Wednesday, with activity peaking on Tuesday.

观看英仙座流星雨的最佳时间是在本周六和下周三之间，周二达到流星雨高峰。

An unusually bright full supermoon was also seen on 12 July, and another is due to appear on 9 September.

7月12日也曾出现过超级大月亮的天象，同时9月9日还将出现新一轮超级月亮。

But the supermoon of Sunday promises to be the most dramatic since this is when the moon will be at its closest point to the Earth all year.

但周日的最大圆月绝对是2017年度最值得期待的天象，届时月亮将到达本年度距离地球最近的地方。