what ’ s up in the sky
what ’ s up in the sky
Late July - Delta Aquarid
Meteor Shower With a radiant point in the Aquarius Constellation , the Delta Aquarids begin their annual amble across the sky in mid- July , bloom in late-July and fade out in the third week of August . They can be seen almost everywhere but favor observers in the Southern Hemisphere and the tropics region of the Northern Hemisphere . This year , the Delta Aquarids ’ loosely-defined peak will occur around July 29th . During the peak , the shower can produce 15-20 meteors per hour . Like other meteor showers , the Delta Aquarids are the result of Earth ’ s passage through debris left behind by a comet . However , the exact source comet for this shower has been a matter of debate . The most likely candidate is Comet 96P / Machholz , which was not discovered until 1986 .
Aug . 12-13 - Perseid Meteor Shower Peak Although the waning gibbous moon will present some significant interference , the always-anticipated Perseid meteor shower should still produce some real stunners when it peaks around Aug . 12th . Caused by the Earth ’ s passage through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle , the Perseids have been known to produce 80- 100 meteors per hour during their peak , and many of these display impressive persistent trains . The shower does favor Northern Hemisphere viewers and occurs in the perfect season for a long night of languishing under the stars . The best time to view will be in the predawn hours well after the moon has set . Because the Moon will already be presenting a significant light battle , observers will want to take extra care this year in choosing where to view because a dark sky will be vital .
Aug . 21 - Total Solar Eclipse The last total solar eclipse to touch any part of the contiguous U . S . happened on February 26 , 1979 , and cut a narrow path across five states in the country ’ s northwest corner . Now , 38 years later , the contiguous U . S . will once again witness a total solar eclipse but this time the path of totality will stretch from coast to coast and cross through 14 states ! The eclipse begins in the Pacific Ocean and wraps up in the Atlantic Ocean , and the U . S . is the
4 only place where the narrow path of totality will actually cross over land . More information on where and when you can see this epic event is spread throughout this issue of Sky ’ s Up !
Sept . 5 - Nepture at
Opposition The fact that Neptune was first found by mathematical prediction rather than actual observation reveals how elusive our planetary sibling can be . But in the weeks leading up to Sept . 5th , amateur astronomers will be getting their telescopes ready for the planet ’ s move into a prime viewing position . On Sept . 5th , the blue-hued Neptune will reach opposition , which means it will sit directly opposite of the Sun when viewed from our planet . Around the same time , it also will be making its closest passage to Earth . These circumstances translate to an excellent observing opportunity . Located in the Aquarius constellation , Neptune will be highest in the sky at midnight local time and will have an apparent visual magnitude of 7.8 . Although it is the fourth largest planet in our solar system , Neptune is not a naked eye object . To see it as more than a brilliant point of light , you will need to use at least a moderate-size telescope , which will hopefully render the planet as a steady blue disk . COURTESY OF Babak Tafreshi , TWAN ( The World at Night )
A meteor appears next to the Milky Way during the Perseid Meteor Shower above ancient Native American petroglyph in the Owens Valley of the Sierras in Bishop , Calif ., on Aug . 11 , 2016 . Oct . 19 - Uranus at Opposition On Oct . 19 , our solar system ’ s third largest
planet , Uranus , will be at opposition , which means it will essentially be at a position directly opposite of the Sun when viewed from Earth . At the same time , it will also be at its closest approach to Earth . For sky watchers , the combination of these factors means the planet will be in a prime viewing position almost all night , peaking at midnight local time . Even though Uranus , which will be located in the Pisces constellation , will appear at its brightest and largest in the night sky during this event , naked eye observations will reveal little more than a star-like point . To really see this remote planet manifest as a pale aqua disk , you will need a moderate-sized telescope , and a larger scope may reveal some of the planet ’ s many moons .
Sky ’ s Up