August stargazing: The Perseids, a ‘big fish,’ celestial conjunctions, and more
| August 1 | Summer triangle |
| August 9 | Full moon sturgeons |
| August 11-13 | Venus Visit Jupiter |
| August 12-13 | Perséids meteor shower |
| August 26 | Mars and the Moon Crescent |
As all Stargazer diligent knows, the middle of summer means one thing: the Perseids! This meteor shower reaches its peak on August 12 of this year, and although this date is not very close to that of the full moon this month, there should always be many meteors exposed for those who choose their time and their location with care. But that’s not all that is happening during this last full month of summer.
August 1: a summer triangle adapted to Euclide
Like another long summer day finally fell back on another summer night, look to the east. If the sky is clear, you may well spy on the summer triangle. The summits of the triangle are formed by the stars Deneb, Vega and Altair, forming an isoscele triangle celestial which would make Euclides proud, which covers the Cygnus, Lyra and Aquila constellations. The stars Deneb, Vega and Altair are the brightest of their respective constellations, and although they are technically Visible all year round, summer is a particularly pleasant moment to look at them.
August 9: Complete sturgeon moon
The full moon of August is the moon of sturgeons, a name taken from the old fish which was once abundant in lakes and rivers of the end of the United States. However, a combination of overfishing, rivers dam and insatiable European taste led to a decrease in their population at the end of the 19th century.
Amerindian culture offers a rich selection of alternative names, many of which evoke the heat of summer cooking. In the catawba language of the Catawba nation, it is the “dry moon”. In Cherokee, August is the “end of the month of fruit” and in Seneca and at the tunic, the full moon of August is simply the “hot moon”. The moon will be fully at the maximum in the morning of August 9, at 3:55 a.m. Hae.
August 11-13: Venus Visit Jupiter
The most notable planetary conjunction of this month will occur on August 11 and 12. The goddess of love (AKA Venus) will stop on the adult great son of the solar system. The two evenings, Venus and Jupiter will appear nearby, near the eastern horizon. Maybe they also snuggle up to watch the Perseids!
August 12-13: Perséids meteor shower Péx predicts
And speaking of the Perseids: although the pre -eminent meteor shower of summer is already underway, having started at the end of July, it should reach its peak on the evening of August 12. During this peak, the skygazers could see around 150 meteors per hour of the management of the earth’s atmosphere. However, it is unlikely that many will be visible. The exact number of the number of people you can see will depend on vision conditions – and unfortunately, this year’s perseid peak falls terribly near the full moon.
This will make meteors relatively difficult this year. The shower will continue until August 24, and some commentators recommend waiting later in the month, when the moon has decreased a little. The Almanac of the farmer always reliable, however, judges such unnecessary measures: “You will see the Perseids very well if you move away from the lights of any city … Log away from light pollution … Look at the darkest part of the sky … [and] Be patient. “
Whatever you choose, do not miss: Perseids are one of the great celestial shows of the year. And if you are wondering where all these meteors come from, don’t ask yourself anymore.
August 26: March and the crescent moon
At the end of August, the moon will have declined until invisibility. However, while he starts taking a look in the sky towards the end of the month, he will receive a visit to March. The Red Planet will park right next to the slim growing in the evening of August 26. According to the farmer’s Almanac, the best time to see the two together will be a very civilized at 8:15 p.m.
Whether you find yourself wandering outside after dinner to discover Mars or drive into the desert for an unqualified perspective on the Perseids, do not forget that you will get the best experience if you are moving away from light pollution sources –And You consult our star advice before leaving overnight.
Until next month!
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