Astronomy Update August

[Skywatcher]

Ok until we find a little home here for me to put these up thought I'd do a brief update of things coming up for those who are interested ( let me know if ok)

Main events

August 12-14 is the maximum of the Annual Perseid meteor shower - our most prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle.

To get the best chance of viewing skies obviously need to be clear and you need to let you eyes become dark adapted for at least 30 minutes, Wrap up warm and sit in a garden chair wacthing the skies - look just to the right and up from the big dipper to the area of sky where you will see a large sideways 'W' in the sky - this is Cassiopea - just above Perseus where the meteors will originate - although you should see the accross the whole sky. Best time to view is after midnight especially after the moon has set as the 'light pollution from the moon can drown out the feint meteors. If you have the time they can be stunning - however if you just pop your head out of the back door and look up you are unlikey to see much, youhave to put a bit of time into getting the most out of it I'm afraid. But if you have never seen a shooting star this is your best chance.

August the 16 - is a little special as there is ( from the UK) a Partial Lunar Eclipse (around 80%) this will start at 19.30 ish UT and reach maximum at about 21.30 UT (GMT i.e 1 hr diffrent from BST) this is an event where the shadow of the Earth passes over the moon and can often result in the Moon changing into a lovely rose.red colour - the exact colour depends upon debris in the atmosphere of earth from volcanoes etc - this is best obseverved at a total eclipse but may well be enough coverage for a little colour change on this occasion.

Jupiter - is still up at nightfall towards the South fro the whole of the month and is a glowing beacon low down to the South - heading Southwest throughout the night and is unmistakable.