Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Aug 8, 2007 1:39:37 GMT -6
Four Notable Astronomical Events to Observe for August 2007
Fellow Chicago Astronomers, Adler crew and Space Monkeys...
August is going to be a great month for astronomy and here are some events to get ready for.
1 - The Annual Perseids Meteor Shower -
The next good meteor shower is the Perseids on August 12.
This year there's no glaring moonlight to interfere as it will be a "New Moon". The best time to watch is from 11 p.m. August 12 until dawn the next morning. The best direction to watch is wherever your sky is darkest, but ideally you should face Northeast away from intruding lights.
Meteors can appear in any part of the sky, but the radiant or source of the shower originates from the Constellation of Perseus. You may see a meteor once or twice a minute on average, and the shower is also active for several days before and after its peak.
Grab a reclining chair or blanket, mosquito repellent, face NE and enjoy space debris on their last and final gasp of incineration. Some of the Adler crew may set up an observation site at a members backyard in the burbs for this event. If it fall's thru, I will set up on my garage roof.
Let us know of your experience.
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2 - Total Lunar Eclipse -
On Tuesday, August 28th, the Moon will offer us a total lunar eclipse to enjoy. The event will start at 4:52 am and conclude at 6:22 am.
The Adler Planetarium will conduct a session to observe this event and the public is invited to participate, starting at 3:30 am. I will be in attendance, operating a telescope and imaging the eclipse. We can also catch Mars and Mercury rising in the east while we are there and watch the eclipsed Moon set behind the Chicago skyline...a first for me!
If the weather is clear it would be a great opportunity to take a sick day off. Moon sickness, or Lunacy can be listed on the medical forms. If you are interested in attending the session, drop me a line.
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3 - Full Moon Rise Session -
Last months full Moon rise over Lake Michigan was a good one. Full narrative and pics here:
With clear skies and pleasant temperatures, The Chicago Astronomers observed the oblong lunar sphere peek over the horizon and rise, while changing colors and shape. It was a spontaneous session, but well worth it.
We felt that the upcoming August 28th Full Moon would be a good observation session for us - and a great last full Moonrise get together of the summer by the south lawn of the Adler Planetarium before sunset. More info as the date approaches, but we would like as many of you to participate.
Drop me a note if interested.
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4 - Asteroid Vesta and Jupiter -
Catch an asteroid if you've never seen one before.
Vesta, the fourth asteroid to be discovered, brushes past Jupiter at the end of the month. Start looking for the asteroid on August 23. Jupiter is in the south at magnitude -2.27. Vesta is just above Jupiter and to its right. You will need a pair of binoculars or a telescope to spot it. Come out every night for the next week or two that it is clear and look again. Vesta is a 7.09-magnitude point of light that is slowly moving past Jupiter. On August 27, the two are only 25 arcminutes apart, with Vesta directly above Jupiter. Watch as Vesta pulls away from Jupiter and sinks back into the lonely night.
Let's try to set up a few sessions for the event around the August 27th date, as I have only observed Vesta once before in a 10" reflector. With Jupiter as a guidepost, the asteroid should be easy to find even in modest telescopes.
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Summer has gone by much too fast and let's try to get as much skytime before Orion rises and winter comes.
Joseph Guzmán
Administrator
www.chicagoastronomer.com
Telescope/Observatory Operator
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
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"We are all in the Gutter, but some of us are looking at the Stars"
Oscar Wilde 1852-1900
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