Perseid Invasion and Super Blue Moon: the main astronomical events of August 2024 and where they will be seen

August is a strange month. While a large part of the planet is in the middle of the summer season and high temperatures, another part of the globe is experiencing the opposite. In terms of astronomy, things are very different. Up there, there is always a “festival.” As we always say, prepare your equipment, whether it is a simple camera or telescope, because the month is really exciting.

The Moon passes 1°48′ from Pollux (mag 1.2)

Start the month by observing the brightest star from the constellation Gemini (and the 17th in the night sky) passing by our favorite satellite.

When it will be: August 2nd

Where will it be observed: All over the world

new Moon

The moment when the satellite will pass through its less luminous phase.

When it will be: August 4th

Where will it be observed: All over the world

Perseid meteor shower

One of the most important moments of the month. The Perseids They come from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttleand are so bright and abundant that they have become one of the most popular meteor showers.

When it will be: August 12

Where will it be observed: Coinciding with the First Quarter Moon, it will be best observed from mid-northern latitudes: from there, the radiant will reach its highest point at 22:30 local time. In contrast, the shower will not be properly visible from most of the southern hemisphere and latitudes north of approximately +60°.

Crescent Moon

An event where increased lunar illumination will be a constant in terms of visibility from Earth, on a path towards the full Moon.

When it will be: August 12

Where will it be observed: All over the world

Meteor shower: k-Cygnus

The so-called Kappa Cygnids (κ-Cygnids) are also an episodic meteor shower with an unknown parent bodyIt is known for its occasional bright fireballs. By the way, periodic outbreaks occur every 6-7 years.

When it will be: 17 of August

Where will it be observed: In the Northern Hemisphere, the radiant will be high in the sky throughout the night, as will the bright lunar disk. In the Southern Hemisphere, the radiant will be low above or below the horizon.

Full Blue Moon

The event of the month (with the Perseids). And for several reasons, since we are facing The first supermoon of the yearas well as entering the seasonal Blue Moon. As for the origin of the name, it is unclear. It has been around for a long time and some even trace it back to 400 years ago, when it meant something that could never happen (hence the English expression “once in a Blue Moon”).

Blue Moons can be seasonal or calendrical. In this case, it is the first, and means that it is the third Full Moon in an astronomical season with four Full Moons. Usually, each season (defined by solstices and equinoxes) has three months and three Full Moons, but sometimes it has the fourth Full Moon (in fact, the next one will be on May 20, 2027). As we said, the August Full Moon will also be the first supermoon, meaning it will be one of the closest (and brightest) to Earth.

When it will be: August 19

Where will it be observed: All over the world.

Waning moon

The last lunar phase which will take place in the month of May.

When it will be: 26 of August

Where will it be observed: From all over the world.

Great planetary alignment

Attention, cosmos lovers, because we are facing the next planetary alignment. In the early morning, six planets (Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn) will line up in the sky. We will be able to see Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn with the naked eye, although Mercury will be closer to the horizon and will be more difficult to detect.

As for Neptune and Uranus, we will need a high-powered telescope. Let’s take a closer look at the conditions for observing the planets.

When it will be: August 28

Where will it be observed: Everywhere in the morning hours. However, remember that August 28, 2024 is a general date for most locations around the world. The ideal date to see the alignment may vary depending on your location.

Meteor shower: Aurigids

The third and final meteor shower of August is the smallest of all. The parent body of the Aurigids It is comet Kiess (C/1911 N1). We recall that the most recent Aurigid outbursts were recorded in 2007 and 2019, when the shower produced 30-50 meteors per hour.

When it will be: August 31st

Where will it be observed: The Aurigids favor the Northern Hemisphere, where their radiant is high above the horizon. The thin lunar crescent will remain below the horizon for most of the night. In the Southern Hemisphere, the radiant is visible 1-2 hours after sunset, near the horizon.

Image | POT

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