This month will hopefully have nice climate and permit us to go stargazing at evening. Whereas the times are nonetheless lengthy and fewer harsh than the winter months, it is going to be simpler to see the celebrities later, when it’s darker. So not less than we’d have an excuse to remain up slightly later to see the constellations within the evening sky. It’s a good suggestion to get someplace out of city to keep away from the sunshine air pollution and it’ll most likely take 20-25 minutes on your eyes to regulate to the darkish. Being slightly out of city will assist to cut back the impact of sunshine air pollution, and hopefully allow us to see extra within the evening sky.
Constellations
There are many vivid stars positioned into constellations; we do recognise eighty-eight (88) in complete. The patterns might be totally different between totally different cultures and nations, however one factor that’s fixed is that all of us use the brightest stars for the constellations, since they’re the celebrities which can be extra simply seen.
So, now that we all know what the constellations are, we’re going to take a look for just a few of them.
Picture Credit score: Wikipedia
Wanting south initially of the month it is possible for you to to see a part of Sagittarius, or not less than the asterism referred to as the Teapot. This constellation factors in the direction of the centre of our galaxy which explains that the black gap within the center is known as after the constellation (Sagittarius A*). Sagittarius is known as after the legendary creatures referred to as centaurs. The highest half being an individual with a bow and arrow, whereas the underside is the physique of a horse. Whereas this constellation is huge, we gained’t be capable of see all of it since it’s partly under the horizon. So, to see extra of it you’ll have to transfer nearer to the equator and search for.
One other constellation to look out for is Perseus, a hero from Greek fantasy. To seek out it, took to the East and if you happen to can spot Jupiter then you’re shut. It is going to be just a bit greater and to the left. The Pleaides are under it, just one constellation over in Taurus. Perseus is a constellation that will be simply forgotten if it weren’t for a sure yearly occasion, a meteor bathe!!!
Deep sky and different objects
Picture Credit score: Wikipedia
On the 13th we can have the height for the Perseids meteor bathe. They’re named so as a result of they arrive from the path of the Perseus constellation, from our perspective on Earth. It is going to be simpler to see within the darkest elements of the evening. So, perhaps it’s an excuse for a late evening or an exercise for individuals who get pleasure from tenting throughout the summer season. Meteor showers do happen usually, however we often solely discover probably the most energetic occasions when much more meteors enter the ambiance. In case you are someplace that’s actually darkish, then you could be handled to a fireball or two. Fortunately, the moon gained’t be an element on this as it is going to be within the New Moon section. Which signifies that there will likely be loads much less mild air pollution, not less than from our nearest celestial physique.
Picture Credit score: Wikipedia
Jupiter is again within the evening sky – you’ll have to look to the East early within the month. It is going to be simply above the horizon slightly after midnight. The fuel big was out of sight for just a few months, however now it is going to be seen for one more whereas. Saturn may also be seen across the constellation of Aquarius. By the top of the month these planets will nonetheless be seen within the Jap a part of the sky for many of the evening. Whereas we are able to see the sunshine reflecting of the planets with the bare eye, we are able to presumably see extra with the correct tools. Some telescopes will enable us to see among the moons round Jupiter and the rings of Saturn.
The Andromeda Galaxy. Picture Credit score: Wikipedia
We are going to take a look for the Andromeda galaxy now. It does seem like a smudge within the sky, however it’s the farthest factor we are able to see with simply our eyes. Even with a small telescope it will nonetheless be a smudge, so don’t fear that you would be able to’t see the main points of the estimated one trillion stars (that’s 1,000,000,000,000). For context, the Milky Manner galaxy (our galaxy) is estimated to have as much as 400 billion stars, lower than half of what we predict is within the Andromeda galaxy.
Picture Credit score: Wikipedia
The Moon
We can have two full moons in August. The primary full moon will likely be within the night of the 1st of August and the following will likely be on the 31st of August very early within the morning. That is, partially, due to the time it takes for the moon to orbit the Earth. But it surely’s not precisely that straightforward…bear with me. *inhales* The Moon takes about 27 days to orbit the Earth, however you would possibly discover that our two full moons are 29 days aside. This isn’t sorcery, however science can clarify it. This distinction is, partially, as a result of the Earth is ALSO MOVING. We’re orbiting the Solar at a excessive velocity. Which means whereas the moon is orbiting it should overtake us to achieve the identical section it was in a month in the past. This leap-frog manoeuvre takes an additional couple of days find yourself with us having seen all phases of the moon.
Names are sometimes given to the complete moon particularly months. For August it is going to be the Grain moon as it is going to be main into harvesting season. The second full moon section does even have a reputation, a Blue Moon. Resulting in the saying “as soon as in a blue moon.”
