New Beginnings

Well hello there Internet, suffice to say it's been a while. I'd give an excuse for my long absence from the world of science blogging, but truth be told life and the challenges of my degree simply got in the way. That being said, having recently graduated with a 2:1 and having had enough time to recollect my thoughts after a long year completing my Masters, I have returned with plans to stay. Expect observing highlights, astronomical discoveries and various points of interest to be coming your way very soon.

With my awkward reintroduction out of the way, let's dive straight into what you can hope to see in the skies this month. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the absolute highlight of August for those in the Northern Hemisphere is the Perseid meteor shower. Fuelled by dust from Comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseids have become famous for their reliability and frequent bright meteors, with recent research from NASA finding the shower produces more fireballs than any other. At its peak between the 12th and 13th, this shower is predicted to dazzle us with up to 70 meteors per hour, with little interference from an early-setting, crescent moon. The apparent point of origin for meteors in this shower is the constellation of Perseus, but a pro-tip to maximise the number of meteors you spot is to ensure you keep your eyes roaming around the entire sky. Just because these meteors appear to originate from Perseus, that doesn't necessarily mean that you'll spot them in the surrounding sky. Another important tip (and from personal experience I cannot stress this enough) is to make sure that you settle yourself somewhere comfortable to watch the show: Meteor showers can be notoriously tricky things and it's guaranteed that the moment your neck freezes and you find yourself looking earthwards to stretch, the most spectacular fireballs will streak (unseen) overhead. Grab a deckchair with plenty of pillows for neck support and get ready to watch one of the most beautiful phenomena the sky has to offer.

Regarding planets it seems that August will be a little disappointing, but there are still a few opportunities for interesting viewing. For those with the right equipment, Neptune reaches opposition on the 27th of this month and will therefore be at its brightest. Point your telescopes toward the constellation of Aquarius and see what you can see. For those looking for an interesting snapshot, Venus should also be providing a rather beautiful sight early this month when it teams up with the young moon in the low, twilight sky.

And speaking of our nearest and dearest satellite, I'd like to challenge those with photographic equipment to take a picture of the Moon this month. Whether you fancy tackling the delicate crescent moon/Venus combo around the 10th or the full moon on the 20th, why not see how many craters and mare you can capture on film. As someone who makes do with a telescopic lens instead of a much-desired telescope, I still find myself amazed at how rewarding imaging the moon can be. Below is a picture I took just a few weeks ago, freehand, from my light polluted suburban garden. Not too shabby, even if I do say so myself.

Next Post: Enceladus- Tiger Stripes & Jovian Jets