We don’t have much this August sky quotes. But like every year perseids, queens of astronomical events. Only in this astronomy lovers are lucky. Although this year maximum peak coincides with the full moon and we won’t be able to see fainter meteors well. But hey, there will be so many that we will definitely find more than one.
But there are other little things besides the Perseids. For example, we will have to Saturn in opposition and to Mercury at its greatest eastern elongation. This is the perfect time to observe these planets.
Also, like every month, there will be several unions it is beautiful to enjoy the summer sky that the northern hemisphere gives us. In the south, they will be in the middle of winter, but wait, the Perseids are worth going to see even if it’s a full moon and you need a good coat.
Queens of Astronomical Events: Perseids
We have a strong dish to start with the astronomical events in August. The Perseids became visible in mid-July and will continue to rip through the sky until the end of August. However, his two strong days will come on nights of 12 and 13 August.
As the name suggests, this meteor shower’s radiant is at constellation perseus. That is, although we will see Falling stars wherever we look, most of them will be born in this point in the sky.
It should also be noted that they are not stars, no matter how we call them that. This is the debris left behind by a comet or asteroid that the Earth collides with each year as it returns around the Sun. 109P/Swift-Tuttle. As they cross the atmosphere, they burn up, giving rise to the meteors we see streak across the sky. There are a lot of them in this stellar stream, and at best they can be seen. up to 200 per hour. And they are also very bright. For this reason, although the peak reaches us in the middle of the full moon, we are sure to see something.
As for the full moon, then, as always, it bears a name from ancient Indian legends. This time sturgeon moon, since it coincides with the time when this fish was easier to catch. This will be one of those known as supermoons, although we must not forget that this is a rather vague concept.
Saturn in opposition
August 14Saturn will be in your close to ground and his face will be completely illuminated by the Sun, and he will be seen all night brighter than in the rest of the year. So it’s time to take a picture. And also just watch it through a telescope. You don’t have to be an astrophotographer to enjoy astronomical events.
Mercury at greatest eastern elongation
As if looking at Saturn wasn’t enough, we can also take a look at Mercury at August 27. will be in your highest point above the horizon and the best time to see it would be just after sunset.
Other astronomical events outside the Perseids
As always, astronomical events are loaded unions in which we can see numerous dances of the planets, between them or with the Moon.
In this case, to name a few, we will have a conjunction of Mars and Uranus on the same day 1, the Moon and Saturn at 12 and Jupiter with the Moon at 15. In addition, we will be able to see the Moon posing next to Mars on August 19, with Venus on the 25th and with Mercury on the 29th.
It seemed that we would see only the Perseids, but there are a lot of dates to write down on the agenda.
Source: Hiper Textual
