One of the most anticipated events every summer by all astronomy enthusiasts is 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 are not the only astronomical event that 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 sky.With this in mind, NASA has prepared a video highlighting the main events and providing a series of observation tips.
The Perseids have their period of maximum activity between August 11 and 13.
Focusing first on the Perseids, NASA has reminded us of the importance of a clear sky to be able to enjoy the meteor shower par excellence. In addition, the darker the sky is, the better we can enjoy the Perseids, so it is important move away from the city centre to avoid light pollution.
The Perseids appear to originate from a location in the sky that is in the northeast of the firmament, so it is important to pay attention to that area and place 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 see, the better.
Of course, it is important to keep in mind that they will not look the same from every location. Also, remember that they can only be seen from the northern hemisphere. Luckily, we have tools at our disposal such as the Light Pollution Map, a map from which to find the areas with less light pollution.
Planetary conjunction
Image | Eyes on the Solar System (NASA)
Another phenomenon that should be kept in mind is the approach of Mars to Jupiter, something we know as planetary conjunctionAccording to NASA, August 14 will be the day when they will be closest, something we can check with tools such as NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System. Another date worth remembering is August 27, when the crescent moon joins both planets.
Lagoon Nebula
Another of the events of the month is related to the Lagoon Nebula, located in the constellation of Sagittarius. Located about 5,000 light years away, the nebula can be seen during the month of August, although in this case It will be necessary to use binoculars or a small telescope.
The Lagoon Nebula appears high in the sky for those in the southern hemisphere, while it appears lower in the sky for those in the northern hemisphere. NASA emphasizes that Observing a nebula can be trickyeven with specialized instruments.
Stellarium is an excellent app to learn more about the night sky
There are many applications to follow astronomical events from your mobile phone. Some of these applications are useful for find out the names of the planets or the constellations we see in the sky. Some even allow us to know where the International Space Station is at any given moment.
One of the most recommended alternatives is Stellarium, an application for iOS and Android with which to understand the night sky that It has augmented reality functionsso we can use our mobile phone camera to discover the constellations and satellites that are passing over us at that moment.
Although available for free, Stellarium has in-app purchases. in-app that allow us to enjoy the full experience. For example, it includes functions such as the possibility of schedule observation sessions and access high-resolution images of different astronomical objects. Even so, the free version can be interesting to try out the application and decide if we are interested in purchasing the full version.
Via | Digital Trends
Cover image | Clay Banks (Unsplash)