Save If You Like to Look at the Sky
If you are still a child at heart and still like to look at the night sky, you should prepare yourself, as 2024 is quite rich in astronomical spectacles. Some of them, like a total solar eclipse, have already happened. But there is still a lot of interesting things ahead.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks
Just now you should look at the night sky. There is a giant comet, three times the size of Mount Everest, called 12P/Ponce Brooks. It is a cryovolcanic comet consisting mainly of ice, dust and gas.
It is said that now, in April, it can be seen with the naked eye immediately after sunset in the western part of the sky. Look for it on April 12, when the comet will pass by bright Jupiter, making it easier to track. And nine days later, on April 21, Comet Ponce-Brooks will reach its closest point to the Sun and may reach its peak brightness, providing one of the best opportunities to see it.
Personally, I did not manage to see this comet with the naked eye. One of the reasons is that right after sunset it is above the horizon and I have very little time to capture it. In addition, there is intense light pollution at this time.
May 4: peak of the Eta-Aquarida meteor shower
In the pre-dawn hours of May 4, when there will be no moon in the sky, a particularly dark sky will allow everyone who wants to see even the faintest shooting stars. The stream radiant, where individual meteors appear to originate, will be near the southeastern horizon within the constellation of Aquarius. The celestial show will be slightly more favorable for observers in the southern hemisphere.
August 12 and 13: Perseid peak
The Perseids give us a spectacle every year in August. However, this year the peak of the meteor shower falls on a dark moonless sky. The Northern Hemisphere is best for this stream, as the meteors will pass near the constellation Perseus, which lies close to the horizon for those living in far southern latitudes.
September and October: Arrival of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
Celestial body A3 Tsuqinshan-ATLAS was first observed in February 2023. In early summer, it will be visible in the evening sky through amateur telescopes.
As September approaches, the comet's orbit will bring it closer to both the Sun and Earth for the first time in 80,000 years. The comet will brighten and possibly become visible through binoculars or even the naked eye. It will appear low in the eastern sky before sunrise in southern latitudes.
If the comet survives its journey around the Sun, the best time for observers in the Northern Hemisphere will begin around October 12. Each night it will rise higher in the evening sky, so the comet will gradually become more visible.
September 17: Saturn makes friends with the Moon
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The Moon and Saturn will converge once a month, starting on September 17. The stunning sight, visible to the naked eye, will be repeated on October 14 and 15, November 11 and December 8.
Two bright lights will be visible immediately after sunset. The color contrast will also make the pair visually striking, with the moon's silver glow next to the giant planet's distinct yellow hue.
October 2: A ring of fire in the sky
Observers in the Western Hemisphere will see a second solar eclipse in 2024. The path of the annular eclipse will mostly cross the Pacific Ocean, limiting visibility from land to a few places.
The first observation of the eclipse from land will take place on picturesque Easter Island. The eclipse will then cover southern Chile and move quickly across the Andes into Argentina. Meanwhile, the partial solar eclipse will be visible to millions of observers across much of southern South America.
December 4: Venus and the crescent moon will meet after sunset
The two brightest objects after the Sun, the Moon and Venus, will join forces in the early evening sky. These two luminaries will be close enough to be observed together in binoculars.
Sources:
saturn captured through phone. The position was determined using star walk 2. He told me that capturing Saturn was difficult than Jupiter!
Last night observation by a 12- year old. He is my daughter's class fellow.
Wow, you also like to look at the night sky 🙂
Who doesn't :)
I was hoping to share something interesting from the sky this time but I again have only a picture of moon from tonight. 😆
Solar Eclipse wasn't visible in most of the world but the videos shared online were spectacular. I will try to search and capture the devil's comet. Your astronomical posts remind me to use the telescope. I have an idea, if it works, hopefully I will share something more intriguing than moon, soon. 😛
It would be great. I wonder if you can do it, although taking pictures through a telescope must be difficult.
You have to use the telescope, otherwise your money spent on it is wasted 😁.
You intrigued me a lot 😃
The above message is copied and pasted as received through WhatsApp.
Usually, people who have a lot of household chores are no longer interested in the stars. Especially since women always have more problems. That's why you surprised me😊 .
When I was preparing the post, for some reason I did not come across the information about the Pleiades. But it is definitely very interesting.
We the people living in earth I must say we are quite lucky of some things because we are able to escape some disaster that is happening in some planet
Upvoted. Thank You for sending some of your rewards to @null. It will make Steem stronger.
The beautiful view of the sky. We are so blessed to have the sky ahead for us. The universe is so wide and large also