One of the most anticipated events every summer by all astronomy fans are the Perseids. Although this phenomenon can be observed from mid-July to the end of August, the period of maximum activity is between August 11 and 13So there are only a few days left to enjoy the moment.
Of course, the Perseids aren’t the only astronomical event we can enjoy during the month of August, which means that over the next few weeks we will have to pay close attention to the night skyWith this in mind, NASA has prepared a video highlighting the main events and offering a series of observation tips.
The Perseids are at their most active between August 11 and 13.
Focusing first on the Perseids, NASA reiterated the importance of clear skies to be able to enjoy the meteor shower par excellence. In addition, the darker the sky, the better we can enjoy the Perseids, so it is important move away from the city center to avoid light pollution.
The Perseids appear to originate from a location in the northeastern sky, so it is important to pay attention to this area and locate ourselves in a place where there are no visual obstacles (like trees or mountains). Meteors can appear anywhere, so the more of the sky we can see, the better.
Of course, it is important to note that they will not look the same regardless of the location. In addition, it is recalled that they are only visible from the northern hemisphere. Fortunately, we have tools such as the Light Pollution Map, a map from which we can find the areas with Less light pollution.
planetary conjunction
Images | Eyes on the Solar System (NASA)
Another phenomenon that should be kept in mind is the approach of Mars to Jupiter, what we call planetary conjunction. As NASA has stated, next August 14 will be the day they will be closest, something we can verify with tools such as NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System. Another date to remember is August 27, the date on which the crescent moon joins the two planets.
Lagoon Nebula
Another event of the month is related to the Lagoon Nebula, located in the constellation Sagittarius. Located about 5,000 light-years away, the nebula can be seen during the month of August, although in this case You will need to use binoculars or a small telescope.
The Lagoon Nebula appears high in the sky for those in the southern hemisphere, while it appears low if we are in the northern hemisphere. NASA points out that Observing a nebula can be complicatedeven with specialized instruments.
Stellarium is a great app to learn about the night sky
There are many apps to track astronomical events from your mobile. Some of these apps are useful for discover the names of the planets or the constellations that we see in the sky. Some even allow us to know at any time where the International Space Station is.
One of the most recommended alternatives is Stellarium, an app for iOS and Android to understand the night sky that has augmented reality functionsWe can thus use the mobile camera to discover the constellations and satellites passing above us at that moment.
Although it is available for free, Stellarium offers purchases in the application that allow us to enjoy the full experience. For example, it includes functions such as the ability to schedule observation sessions and access high-resolution images of different astronomical objects. However, the free version can be interesting to try the application and decide if we are interested in purchasing the full version.
By | Digital Trends
Cover image | Clay Banks (Unsplash)
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