In August 2023, the sky will be favorable for inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere with many exceptional astronomical events. Not to be missed: the two Super Moons which take place at the beginning and end of the month, the beautiful Perseid meteor shower with up to 100 streaks per hour, as well as the performances of the planets of the solar system. Specifically:
August 2 – Full Moon, Super Moon
The Moon will be located opposite the Sun as seen from Earth and the part of the Moon facing Earth will be fully illuminated. This phase occurred at 01:33. Because this is the time when it is easy to catch sturgeon in the Great Lakes and other large lakes, ancient Native American tribes called this full moon the Full Sturgeon Moon. Moreover, people also call it by the names Green Corn Moon and Grain Moon. This is also the last Supermoon of three Supermoon events in 2023. The Moon will be closest to Earth and may appear brighter and larger than usual.
Super Moon and Micro Moon – Catalin Paduraru.
August 10 – Mercury reaches its maximum eastern elongation
Mercury will reach its maximum eastern elongation position, up to 27.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to observe Mercury because it will be at its highest position above the horizon in the evening. Look for this planet in the western sky after sunset!
August 12-13 – Perseid meteor shower
The Perseid meteor shower, with a frequency of up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak, is one of the best showers to watch. This meteor shower comes from comet Swift-Tuttle, discovered in 1862. The Perseids are famous for their large number of bright meteors. Every year, this meteor shower will take place between July 17 and August 24. The night of August 12 and the morning of August 13 this year will be when these rains will reach their maximum. This year’s Perseid meteor shower is unaffected by moonlight (the crescent moon at the end of the month), which is ideal for sky lovers. It is best to observe from a dark place after midnight. Meteors tend to radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
Perseid Meteor Shower 2022 by Makrem Larnaout.
August 16 – New Moon
The Moon will be on the same side as the Earth and the Sun, so we won’t be able to see it in the night sky at all. This phase occurs at this time, the ideal time to observe other faint celestial bodies such as galaxies and star clusters, as they will not be affected by moonlight.
August 27 – Saturn in opposition
Saturn will be closest to Earth and its entire surface will be illuminated by the Sun. This is the time when Saturn is the brightest of the year and will be present in the sky all night. It is also an ideal opportunity for us to photograph and observe Saturn and its moons. An average telescope will help you observe Saturn’s rings and even the planet’s brightest moons.
August 31 – Full Moon, Super Moon, Blue Moon
The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun and it will be fully lit. This milestone occurs at 4:58 p.m. Vietnam time. It’s also the second of three supermoons in 2023. The Moon will be closest to Earth and may appear a little larger and brighter than usual. Because it is the second full moon of the same month, it is sometimes called the Blue Moon.
See more 2023 ephemeris here: https://deepsky2000.net/lich-cac-su-kien-thien-van-nam-2023
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