Every Monday I pick the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week forward, however you’ll want to verify my fundamental feed for extra in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and extra.
The Evening Sky This Week: August 21-27, 2023
This week our pure satellite tv for pc in area reaches its First Quarter section—showing half-lit as seen from Earth—and start to bleach the evening sky. Nonetheless, this one comes with a bonus. It might make stargazing harder and fewer spectacular, however this half-lit moon will do one thing extraordinary by occulting—blocking-out, or eclipsing—an enormous purple supergiant star.
The moon occulting Antares is a serious spotlight ion the week, however when you have small telescope you have to be out each evening taking a look at Saturn and its unbelievable seven rings. With Earth now between the solar and sixth planet, Saturn is at its brightest and greatest in 2023.
Monday, August 21: Six Years Since The Final ‘Nice American Eclipse’
The place had been you on August 21, 2017? The primary coast-to-coast complete photo voltaic eclipse for 99 years was an unbelievable event for anybody with an curiosity within the sky. For simply over two minutes, and inside a slender path of totality, stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, eclipse chases, stood in awe because the photo voltaic corona was revealed to them. Often, totality is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. Nonetheless, North America resides by a golden age of photo voltaic eclipses and one other one is arising very quickly when on April 8, 2024 totality will final so long as 4 minutes 26 seconds. This time the trail of totality will stretch from Mexico by Texas and 13 different U.S. states to Atlantic Canada.
Wednesday, August 23: Mercury Retrograde
From at this time by September 15, Mercury shall be in a interval of obvious retrograde movement”—showing to go backwards within the sky. The trigger is Mercury’s orbit of the Solar, which is barely elliptical. When it will get near Earth throughout its “inferior conjunction”—proper now—its motion towards the background of stars seems to decelerate.
As Earth overtakes it, Mercury seems to go backwards for a brief interval, very like should you overtake a automobile on the freeway. It’s all and solely a matter of perspective and has no significance to people.
Thursday, August 24: A First Quarter Moon Occults Antares
Tonight a First Quarter Moon will transfer throughout a vivid star within the evening sky in a uncommon view solely afforded to these in central U.S. and northern Florida. The occasion—referred to as an occultation by astronomers—will see a vivid 56%-lit waxing gibbous moon occult (or eclipse) the sunshine from Antares, the fifteenth brightest star within the evening sky. It should disappear for about an hour from 02:29 UTC. See this occultation map) on In-the-sky.org.
Friday, August 25: It’s 50 Day Countdown to America’s ‘Nice Western Ring of Fireplace Eclipse’
In simply 50 days a dramatic “ring of fireside” annular photo voltaic eclipse shall be seen from components of the U.S., central and South America. Whereas most of North, central and South America will see a partial photo voltaic eclipse, these inside a slender path will see a hoop across the moon for as much as 5 minutes.
The trail is about 125 miles huge and stretches from from Oregon by Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and Colombia to Brazil.
Sunday, August 27: Saturn at Opposition
The ringed planet will shine at its brightest—and shine all evening—on this date. Why? Earth shall be positioned between the Solar and Saturn, with the latter thus 100%-lit from our viewpoint, rising within the east at sundown and setting within the west at dawn.
Nonetheless, our view of the gasoline large’s rings are narrowing barely, and can proceed to take action by 2025, after they start to open-up once more. Both method, tonight—and, virtually talking, just a few weeks both facet—is a wonderful time to coach a small telescope on the ringed planet, which you’ll discover within the constellation Aquarius.
Object Of The Week: Saturn at Opposition
One of the mind-blowing issues to see in a small telescope is the rings of Saturn. You don’t want something particular—any yard telescope will do—although do maintain your expectations low. Sure, you’ll see the rings, however don’t anticipate the planet to fill the complete body. A six-inch (or bigger) aperture telescope is when it begins to impress.
Instances and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For probably the most correct location-specific data seek the advice of on-line planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Dwell. Examine planet-rise/planet-set, dawn/sundown and moonrise/moonset instances for the place you’re.
Disclaimer: I’m the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com and creator of “The Full Information To The Nice North American Eclipse of April 8, 2024.”
Wishing you clear skies and huge eyes.