During the month of August, night sky observers will be able to see the Perseid meteor showerin addition to various celestial conjunctions is lunar occultation.
The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak on August 12, although it is also possible to observe it a few days before and a few days after the date.
A meteor shower occurs when the Earth crosses a region with a large concentration of comet debris. Upon reaching contact with the atmosphere at high speed, these fragments combust, leaving a luminous trail that forms “shooting stars”.
Visible every year at this same time, the Perseids are composed of fragments of comet Swift-Tuttle. And it gets its name in reference to the place where the phenomenon can be seen in the sky, the constellation of Perseus.
Check out tips for observing meteor showers here.
Celestial conjunctions occur when two or more celestial bodies appear very close together in the sky — an optical illusion, as they are separated by thousands of kilometers in space.
Conjunctions are generally observable with the naked eye, and tend to produce beautiful astronomical photos.
This month, the conjunction between the Moon and Saturn will turn into a lunar occultation — when the Moon enters in front of a star, leaving it hidden — in the North, part of the Northeast and the Central-West regions.
See below the main astronomical phenomena of the month of Juneaccording to guide to astronomical ephemerides at the Valongo Observatory, at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
- 5/8: Conjunction of the Moon, with Venus and Mercury before dusk, heading west, in the constellation of Leo. On the 5th and 6th, the Moon, Venus, Mercury and the star Regulus will form a beautiful celestial quartet;
- 6/8: Conjunction between Venus and Mercury before dusk, heading west, in the constellation Leo. The stars will be separated by 5°;
- 12/8: Maximum activity of the Perseid meteor shower, which can be observed during the morning in the northeast direction;
- 8/14: Conjunction of the Moon with the star Antares, westward, early morning. The stars will be 0.6° apart; Conjunction between Mars and Jupiter during the dawn, eastward, in the constellation of Taurus. The stars will be separated by just 0.3°;
- 8/20: Conjunction between the Moon and Saturn and low lunar occultation of Saturn in the early evening, eastward, in the constellation Aquarius. States in the North and part of the Northeast and Central-West regions will be able to observe a complete lunar occultation of the planet;
- 8/26: Conjunction of the Moon with the Pleiades cluster in the early morning, eastward, in
Taurus constellation; - 8/27: Conjunction between the Moon, Mars and Jupiter during the early hours of the morning (after 3 am), eastward, in the constellation of Taurus;
- 8/28: Moon, Mars and Jupiter will form a beautiful celestial trio during the early hours of the morning (after 3 am), heading east, in
Taurus constellation.
O astronomical ephemeris guide has been produced since 2016 by Valongo Observatoryfrom the UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)and brings the main phenomena that can be seen in the night sky each year.
With the aim of reviving interest in celestial contemplation, the material lists month by month which celestial bodies will be visible and the best way to look for them. In addition to providing simple explanations about astronomy.
O complete guidewith sky maps, can be downloaded for free here.
check out here astronomy apps to help locate and track astronomical phenomena in the night sky.
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