NASA ’s top skywatching bakshish for August include a meetup of Jupiter and Mars , a look at the Perseid meteor , and a view of the Lagoon Nebula .
The space way share its suggestions on what to look out for in the night sky over the coming weeks in a TV that we ’ve implant at the top of this page .
Mars
In August , Mars can be seen zipping by Jupiter , the large planet in our solar arrangement . You ’ll be capable to spot them appearing at their closest during the dayspring on August 14 , when they ’ll look to be a mere third of a degree aside , which is less than the breadth of the full lunation .
After that , Mars will quickly move away from Jupiter , though on August 27 , the crescent moon joins the two planet to form a tercet in the forenoon sky .
Perseids
The Perseid meteor shower is back again this month . This twelvemonth ’s peak Nox for Perseid viewing is on August 11 and into morning nightfall of the next solar day . reckon condition are expected to be favourable this year , as the moon will be place by around 11:30 p.m. local time , ensuring a reduction of disruptive light from our nearest neighbor . Just keep your finger’s breadth crossed for clear skies .
Meteor activeness will gather yard from latterly in the eventide until dawn , agree to NASA , and those in a dour viewing location can expect to see as many as 75 meteors per hour .
“ The Perseids appear to grow from a place in the sky that rises in the nor'-east , so lie in back and face roughly in that direction , but attempt to take in as much of the sky as you may in your position , as meteors can come along all over , ” NASA say .
Lagoon Nebula
August is a unspoilt calendar month for observing the Lagoon Nebula , which , like all nebulae , comprises a giant swarm of dust and accelerator with many new , bright asterisk .
Estimated to be between 4,000 and 6,000 lightsome - age away from the Earth , the Lagoon Neubula is locate in the configuration Sagittarius .
“ Its oblong bodily structure is about 100 clean - years long by about 50 light - years wide , ” NASA say . “ It ’s a cauldron of intense star - forming activity , with many young stars blazing brightly , causing the fence in flatulence to glow . That glow is faint and colorless when peer at the Lagoon Nebula through binoculars , but foresightful - exposure photosreveal its colorful nature . ”
The Lagoon Nebula appears gamy overhead in August for folks view the skies from the Southern Hemisphere , and quite low for those at higher northern latitudes , but it ’s visible throughout the lower 49 U.S. states .
The picture offers some summit on how to spot the Lagoon Nebula , buta decent astronomy appwill also be able to help .
