To be observed on August 2009 night sky... *doki~doki~*
This August bring summer's best meteor shower and an opportunity to see mysterious clouds on the fringes of Earth's atmosphere.
Noctilucent Clouds Reported
Reports are streaming in (July 2009) from northern Europe and North America of the electric blue clouds known as noctilucent clouds. Noctilucent clouds are a rare phenomenon that most often occurs in summer months. The clouds are a beautiful and elusive sight that is only visible a little after sunset or a little before sunrise. Noctilucent clouds may also be a sign of global warming..
The Moon for August 2009
August's full moon occurs on the 5th at 8:55 pm EDT. The next night, August 6, the moon appears close to sparkling Jupiter. New moon is on August 20. This month, the first visible crescent after new moon will mark the start of Ramadan. Most observers in the United States will see this crescent on August 21. On the 23rd, the moon appears to the lower right of Spica, and on August 26 and 27 the moon will pass Antares.
Perseid Meteor Shower
Summer's best meteor shower is the Perseids, which appear to come from the constellation Perseus. Although Perseid meteors can be seen from July 25 to August 18, the shower peaks around August 12. The comet Swift-Tuttle left behind the dusty debris that is responsible for the shower, which can reach 80 meteors an hour at maximum.
Jupiter and Saturn in August
Jupiter is a great observing target for the entire month. The planet reaches opposition on August 14, when it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, appearing opposite the sun. A good pair of binoculars or a modest telescope will show four points of light circling the planet over the course of the night. These are the Galilean moons, Jupiter's largest satellites. Sometimes not all moons can be seen because they are transiting in front of or passing behind the giant planet. Jupiter is the brightest point of light in the evening sky.
this is adapted from stargazing.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_night_sky_for_august_2009
Noctilucent Clouds Reported
Reports are streaming in (July 2009) from northern Europe and North America of the electric blue clouds known as noctilucent clouds. Noctilucent clouds are a rare phenomenon that most often occurs in summer months. The clouds are a beautiful and elusive sight that is only visible a little after sunset or a little before sunrise. Noctilucent clouds may also be a sign of global warming..
The Moon for August 2009
August's full moon occurs on the 5th at 8:55 pm EDT. The next night, August 6, the moon appears close to sparkling Jupiter. New moon is on August 20. This month, the first visible crescent after new moon will mark the start of Ramadan. Most observers in the United States will see this crescent on August 21. On the 23rd, the moon appears to the lower right of Spica, and on August 26 and 27 the moon will pass Antares.
Perseid Meteor Shower
Summer's best meteor shower is the Perseids, which appear to come from the constellation Perseus. Although Perseid meteors can be seen from July 25 to August 18, the shower peaks around August 12. The comet Swift-Tuttle left behind the dusty debris that is responsible for the shower, which can reach 80 meteors an hour at maximum.
Jupiter and Saturn in August
Jupiter is a great observing target for the entire month. The planet reaches opposition on August 14, when it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, appearing opposite the sun. A good pair of binoculars or a modest telescope will show four points of light circling the planet over the course of the night. These are the Galilean moons, Jupiter's largest satellites. Sometimes not all moons can be seen because they are transiting in front of or passing behind the giant planet. Jupiter is the brightest point of light in the evening sky.
this is adapted from stargazing.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_night_sky_for_august_2009