The "stars" of August are actually meteors and planets. As it always seems to be. The full moon is wrapping up and it's time to get my crystals and rocks off the window ledge, they are done charging and are now ready to help me with balancing the energies in my world and manifesting what I want to manifest, higher vibrations and such. I am currently searching for a new crystal, citrine. Jupiter and Saturn are at opposition this month. Saturn opposition occurs on the first say of the month, August 1st (August 2nd if you're in Europe according to BBC Sky at Night Magazine). Jupiter opposition occurs on August 19th. "In astronomy, opposition describes when a planet or other body is in the opposite part of the sky to the Sun. At such times, planets appear brighter and larger than at other non-opposition times." (BBC Sky at Night Magazine). In other words, it's a great time to try and see these planets with a naked eye, though binoculars, nightscopes, and telescopes will give better views, of course. At opposition, Jupiter will shine at -2.9 magnitude, and should be handsomely and pretty finely detailed through a good telescope. "Jupiter and Saturn—the two largest planets in our solar system—both come to opposition this month, making them each optimally bright, big, and out all night." (NIGHT SKY FOR AUGUST 2021- The Old Farmer's Almanac). "The Moon and Venus will pass within 4°17′ of one another on the night of August 10th. This is too far apart to view through a telescope or binocular view, but don’t let that dissuade you. Venus is bright and the Moon will be only 11% illuminated making it a perfect night to view them both." (Space Tourism Guide). Peak Perseids! "Given a young Moon, the Perseid meteors will perform at full glory on August 11 and 12. This is the most watched meteor shower of the year. The post-midnight hours are best for viewing these very fast shooting stars." (NIGHT SKY FOR AUGUST 2021- The Old Farmer's Almanac). August 18 – Peak of the K-Cygnid Meteor Shower. "On this night, you can look for the peak of the κ-Cygnid meteor shower at a rate of roughly 3 meteors per hour. This meteor shower is not as bombastic as the Perseids a few days earlier, but the moon will be only 1% illuminated – nearly new – and ideal for a night of stargazing and meteor spotting, even if those shooting stars are quite infrequent." (Space Tourism Guide). On August 20th, the moon and Saturn will closely approach one another. On August 21st the moon and Jupiter will closely approach one another. I try to give a night sky report as if to a person who doesn't have a pair of binoculars or a telescope and wants to try and see things with the naked eye. Doing this is harder the more light pollution you have (if you live in a heavily populated city with lots of lights at night). Your best bet at seeing planets with the naked eye is to remember the rule, "stars twinkle, planets don't." Planets will have a steady sort of light to them. But of course, the best thing would be to get a telescope. Even an inexpensive one would afford you some better view of the stars and planets. I only have a nightscope and binoculars. I do okay with those for now. I would like to have a telescope someday, when we have the room for it and a sky with enough stars and planets to see with it (and no city light pollution!) If you have scopes to see with, visit the websites below for more viewing options, such as asteroids in opposition this month. Always keep looking up! You never know what you'll see up there! Websites:
BBC Sky at Night Magazine: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/how-see-planets-night-sky-august/ Space Tourism Guide: https://spacetourismguide.com/night-sky-august/ NIGHT SKY FOR AUGUST 2021- The Old Farmer's Almanac: https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-august-2021
0 Comments
|
nerdy weirdviewShows, media, news, geek, paranormal, uap, weird shitsville stuff, etc. archives
February 2022
categories
All
|