Every year during August, River North Law Group invites clients and their families to enjoy the last warm nights of summer star gazing earth’s astronomical wonders. The 2024 astronomical forecast doesn’t disappoint! We’ll enjoy a supermoon in a few days, and the Perseids Shower later this month. Enjoy!
Begin Star Gazing with a Supermoon – August 4th
Only one supermoon occurs in August this year. You'll remember last year August was bookended by supermoons. If you missed July's Buck Moon, get ready to enjoy a popular August astronomical treat.
Only the side of the Moon facing the Sun will be illuminated, limiting lighting that would otherwise be a hindrance to sky watchers trying to get a glimpse of planets. A term used to describe the event is "syzygy" which comes from the Greek word "syzygia," meaning conjunction during an alignment. Because a complete lunar cycle lasts 29.5 days, in just over two weeks, the Moon’s phase will be full.
A supermoon appears as a larger-than-usual moon in the night sky. It looks larger because it's closer to Earth. The term ‘supermoon"’ is a nickname given for what astronomers call a perigean full moon – a moon that is full and at its closest point in its orbit around Earth.
The Right Timing for Perseids – August 11th and 12th.
The Perseids meteor shower peaks from Sunday, August 11th to the morning of August 12th. Basically, we will be crop dusted by an ancient comet again this year, barring artificial light pollution. If weather conditions are favorable, we should be able to see the shower from 11:30 PM until dawn in all its galactic glory. . Many astronomers and amateur star gazers will looking upward to capture a glimpse of that dust.
It’s a stellar opportunity for sleeping outdoors with the family in your own backyard for a local sleep-party. Or, you may opt for a local camp site. You can view meteor showers from anywhere in the world. It doesn’t matter the state or country in which you live. The meteor count is usually highest predawn when the skies are at their very darkest, and your position on Earth is forward to the motion through the dust cloud.
Although you have over a hundred meteor showers from which to choose, your night gazing experience, a high meteor incidence, and seasonable August weather, make the Perseids one of the best night sky viewing experiences of the year. The shower’s peak is when the greatest number of meteors per hour fall (50 per hour), and this peak typically occurs in the pre-dawn hours (when it’s still dark).
History of Star Gazing The Perseids
After discovery and documentation in 1862, The Perseids became the legacy of Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle. The comet passes through the inner Solar System only once every 133 years. Each August, Earth encounters the trail of debris left behind by Swift-Tuttle. At that time, we are treated to one of the best meteor showers of the year.
A Chinese manuscript written in A.D. 36 records the first siting of the Perseid meteor shower. The Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli linked the Perseid shower to Comet Swift-Tuttle in 1866. Four years earlier, the comet had been detected by leading astronomers of that era.
Sturgeon’s Moon – August 19th
The eighth full Moon of the year will reach its peak brightness at 2:25 p.m. EDT, meaning North America will have to wait several hours until the Sun sets and the Moon rises to see it in all its glory. The event is widely known as the Sturgeon Moon because fish in the Great Lakes and other regions of North America are more easily caught before the end of summer. August’s full moon is one of four supermoons and will appear brighter and larger than an average moon.
Supermoons occur a few times a year when the Moon reaches its closest point to Earth in its orbit, known as perigee. During this event, the Moon will be less than 230,000 miles away from Earth. Due to the increased gravitational pull from Earth’s only natural satellite, higher-than-normal tides, often called King Tides, will be experienced, potentially leading to nuisance flooding in coastal communities.
In addition to being the full Sturgeon Moon and a Supermoon, it is also known as a seasonal Blue Moon.
“Once in a Blue Moon”
August’s Blue Moon is special because it is the "extra" moon in a season with four full moons. This usually only happens every two and a half years. Since the 1940s, the term ‘blue moon’ has also been the term used to refer to the second full moon in a calendar month. Thus, the bookend Supermoons this month.
Tips for August Star Gazing from the Almanac
- Get away from light pollution! You’ll want to avoid city lights. Any hill out on the countryside works. Mountaintops are also great viewing locations because they are usually at a high enough altitude to reduce haze from air and light pollution. Plan a drive or a camping trip!
- Gaze at whatever part of the sky is darkest at your location. Though it might be tempting, avoid using binoculars or a telescope. It is better to look at the whole sky than a tiny part of it. Your eyes will automatically move toward any motion up above. Avoid looking at your cell phone or other lights during the meteor shower, as this will interfere with your night vision.
- While the shower is best when moonlight is absent, you can still watch for shooting stars if the Moon’s around. Just try to face away from the Moon when looking for meteors. Its light pollution will affect the whole sky, but it will be worse closer to the Moon.
- You’ll need about 20 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darker skies, so get out earlier and be patient.
- Being comfortable is important. To avoid a stiff neck, bring a chaise lounge or reclining lawn chair. A sleeping bag on the ground works, too. Find a slight incline so that your head will be higher than your feet. Bring an extra layer of clothes if you’re worried about being cold; when you are sitting or lying outside at night, your body heat radiates directly into the sky.
Taken from The Almanac.
More tips from Space.com
To discover more astronomical events to watch out for in August, visit here.
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