This article was originally featured on Popular Science.

Summer skygazing season in the Northern Hemisphere is quickly drawing to a close.  September 1 marks the beginning of meteorological autumn, and we are racing towards the Autumnal Equinox. While the temperatures may finally start to get a little bit cooler, the night sky is staying pretty hot with a very bright Mercury beginning in mid-September, a meteor shower, and the last supermoon of the year. Here are some events to look out for this month and if you happen to get any stellar sky photos, please tag us and include #PopSkyGazers.

[Related: Climate change is affecting fall foliage, but not in the way you think.]

September 1- Aurigid Meteor Shower Predicted to Peak

The day after August’s Blue Moon, the Aurigid meteor shower is predicted to reach its peak. This meteor shower has been active since August 28 and will wrap up on September 5. From the eastern US, the shower will likely be visible around 11:30 PM each night when its radiant point rises above the eastern horizon. It is predicted to remain active until dawn breaks at around 5:51 AM. In the Sky estimates that viewers could see about five meteors an hour and that the bright moon will likely cause some viewing interference. 

September 12 – Nishimura Comet at Closest Approach

Anyone can buy a certificate to get a star named after them, but only the lucky can have comets named for them. That’s what happened earlier in August when Hideo Nishimura of Kakegawa, Japan was photographing the night sky and captured an image of Comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura). The comet orbits the sun every 520 years and is expected to be at its closest approach to our planet this month, as long as it survives a cozy orbit around the sun even tighter than the planet Mercury’s loop. According to EarthSky, Comet Nishimura should become a binocular object during the first mornings of September if it survives its orbit. Observers with an unobstructed view to the east-northeastern horizon might get good binocular views of Comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) about 45 minutes before sunrise. It’s expected to pass at 78 million miles from Earth and does not pose any threat. 

[Related: ‘Oumuamua isn’t an alien probe, but it might be the freakiest comet we’ve ever seen.]

September 18 – Venus at its Greatest Brightness

In addition to the planet Mercury lighting up the sky most of this month, our solar system’s brightest planet will be at its most radiant around the middle of September. Venus will be shining brightly at a magnitude of -4.5 early in the morning in the eastern sky. It will continue to remain pretty bright for the rest of the month and reach its peak altitude until October 20.

September 23 – Autumnal Equinox 

Fall officially arrives in the Northern Hemisphere at 2:50 AM EDT on Saturday, September 23. The autumnal equinox occurs at the exact same moment around the world. It is the second equinox of the year, after March’s Spring equinox. During an equinox, the sun crosses an imaginary extension of Earth’s equator line called the celestial equator. The equinox happens precisely when the sun’s center passes through this imaginary line. In the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox happens when the sun crosses the equator from north to south. When the sun crosses from south to north, it marks the spring or vernal equinox, which is what happens in the Southern Hemisphere in September. 

The days will continue to get shorter than the nights, since the sun will rise later and set earlier. This continues up until the winter solstice in December, when the days begin to slowly grow longer again. 

[Related: We finally know why Venus is absolutely radiant.]

September 29 – Full Harvest Supermoon

September’s full moon, or the Harvest Moon, will reach its peak illumination at 5:58 AM EST. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the full moon that happens nearest to the fall equinox always takes on the name Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon also rises at roughly the same time, around sunset, for several consecutive evenings. This traditionally gives farmers several extra evenings of moonlight, helping them to finish harvesting before the frosts of fall are scheduled to arrive. This year’s Harvest Moon is also the last of four supermoons of 2023 and it will be 224,658 miles away from Earth. 

Additional names for September’s full moon include the Corn Moon or Mandaamini giizis in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), the Gourd Moon or Wade Nuti in the Catawba Language of the Catawba Indian Nation, South Carolina, and the Falling Leaf Moon or Poneʔna-wueepukw Neepaʔuk in the Mahican Dialect of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Wisconsin.

The same skygazing rules that apply to pretty much all space-watching activities are key this month: Go to a dark spot away from the lights of a city or town and let the eyes adjust to the darkness for about a half an hour. 

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The last full month of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere is not only getting two full moons—this year, August brings two full super moons and a Blue Moon. Also expect the annual Perseids meteor shower as the midsummer night skies heat up. Here are some events to look out for. If you happen to get any stellar sky photos, tag us and include #PopSkyGazers.

[Related: The world needs dark skies more than ever. Here’s why.]

August 1: Full Sturgeon Supermoon

The first full moon of the month is the Surgeon Moon which is set to appear on the afternoon of August 1, reaching peak illumination at 2:32 p.m. EDT. As the sun sets that night, look to the southeast to see the moon rise. 

The Surgeon Moon is the second of four scheduled supermoons this year. A supermoon typically exceeds the disk size of an average-sized moon by up to 8 percent and is about 16 percent brighter than the average moon.  

The name Sturgeon Moon refers to the time of year when the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most frequently caught. Additional names for August’s full moon include the Corn Moon or Skumoone Neepãʔuk in the Mahican Dialect of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Wisconsin, the Ricing Moon or Manoominike-giizis in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), and the Hot Moon or Gëdë́’ökneh in Seneca. 

[Related: Lunar laws could protect the moon from humanity.]

August 12-13: Perseids meteor shower peaks

The annual Perseids meteor shower is predicted to peak around August 13. According to EarthSky, the moon will be about 10 percent illuminated during this year’s peak. Perseids rise to a peak gradually and then fall pretty quickly. They also tend to strengthen in numbers as the night turns into the early hours of the morning. Another bonus is that these meteors are often colorful.

This meteor shower is also often best seen before dawn. With a dark sky with no moon, up to 90 meteors per hour are possibly visible. This year, the light from the waning crescent moon will not interfere with Perseids.

August 24: Moon occults Antares

In this rare event, the moon will pass in front of the star Antares (Alpha Scorpii), creating a lunar occultation that is expected to be visible in Mexico, the contiguous United States, and Canada. For those in Eastern time, the occultation will begin with the disappearance of Antares (Alpha Scorpii) behind the moon at about 10:52 p.m.

This moon will be 25 days past the new moon and 57 percent illuminated. Antares (Alpha Scorpii) will disappear behind the darkest side of the moon and then reappear from behind the illuminated side.

August 26: Asteroid 8 Flora at opposition

Not to be upstaged by two moons and a beloved meteor shower, Asteroid 8 Flora will be visible in the constellation Aquarius and will be positioned well above the horizon for much of the night on August 26. 

[Related: Smashed asteroid surrounded by a ‘cloud’ of boulders.]

The 91-mile in diameter Asteroid 8 Flora will reach its highest point in the sky around midnight local time wherever you are on Earth. In Eastern time, it will be visible between 10:42 PM and 3:43 AM, according to In the Sky. 

Asteroid 8 Flora is the largest rock in the Flora family of asteroids and is named after the Roman goddess of flowers and gardens. 

August 30: Full Blue Supermoon

The month will end with a Blue Moon, a term usually used for a month that has two full moons like this August. According to NASA, they occur once every two to three years and are not usually blue in color. Moons with a blue hue are “the result of water droplets in the air, certain types of clouds, or particles thrown into the atmosphere by natural catastrophes, such as volcanic ash and smoke,”

The Blue Moon will reach peak illumination at 9:36 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 30. This full moon will also be the closest, biggest, and brightest full supermoon of the year. It will be 222,043 moon miles from Earth, which is fairly close by. A full supermoon won’t be any closer until November 2025.

The same skygazing rules that apply to pretty much all space-watching activities are key this month: Go to a dark spot away from the lights of a city or town and let the eyes adjust to the darkness for about a half an hour. 

The post Catch vibrant meteors, a Blue Moon, and an astroid in the sky this August appeared first on Popular Photography.

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With the summer solstice behind us, it’s true that we are losing tiny bits of sunlight per day.  But that just means the short summer nights are growing a bit longer—all the better to catch exciting things happening this month. Skygazing in July should be pretty comfortable for those in the Northern Hemisphere as temperatures reach their summer highs. Here are some events to look out for and if you happen to get any stellar sky photos, tag us and include #PopSkyGazers.

July 1- Conjunction of Venus and Mars 

Kicking off the first full month of summer with Venus and Mars making a close approach to one another. The two planets will be visible just after 8 PM EDT on June 30, and will reach their closest approach at 3:09 AM EDT on July 1 as dusk fades into darkness. Both planets will lie roughly within the constellation Leo. 

[Related: We finally know why Venus is absolutely radiant.]

July 3- Full Buck Supermoon

July’s full moon will rise on Monday, July 3 and reach peak illumination at 7:39 AM EDT. The moon will be below the horizon, so skygazers should look towards the southeast after the sunset to watch the Buck Moon rise. 

It is also a supermoon, which means that it will appear bigger than many other full moons this year. It will be 224,895.4 miles away from Earth, and only next month’s Blue Moon will venture closer to Earth this year. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanacs, this is the first of four total supermoons for 2023.

The name Buck Moon refers to the time of year when the antlers of male deer are in full-growth mode. Additional names for July’s full moon include the Blueberry Moon or Miini-giizis in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), the String Bean Moon or Ohyotsheli in Oneida, and the Thunderstorm Moon or Hiyeswa Tiriri Nuti in the Catawba Language.

[Related: ‘Skyglow’ is rapidly diminishing our nightly views of the stars.]

July 7- Venus at its brightest point of the year

The second planet from our sun is already an extremely luminescent planet, but it will be at its brightest point for all of 2023 this month. It’s hard to miss this dazzling planet, so look in the direction of sunset on any clear summer evening beginning on July 7. The lighted portion of the planet, known as the crescent Venus, will cover its greatest area on our sky’s dome. 

July 16–27- Lāhaina Noon

This twice a year event occurs during the months of May and July in the Earth’s tropical region when the sun is directly overhead at around solar noon. At this point, upright objects do not cast shadows. 

According to the Bishop Museum, in English, the word “lāhainā” can be translated as “cruel sun,” and is a reference to severe droughts experienced in that part of the island of Maui in Hawaii. An older term in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is “kau ka lā i ka lolo,” which means “the sun rests upon the brain,” and references both the physical and cultural significance of the event.

July 29–30- Delta Aquarids meteor shower peaks

The lesser known Delta Aquarids is the first of the summer’s annual meteor showers. It starts on July 18, but is predicted to peak on July 29 and 30. However, if you miss it, don’t worry. The meteor shower doesn’t have a noticeable peak like others. It “rambles” along steadily from the end of July into the beginning of August, when it joins up with the Perseids Meteor shower—but more on that next month.

The Delta Aquarids’ can reach a maximum rate 15 to 20 meteors per hour in a dark sky with no moon. Since August’s full moon arrives early, take advantage of the moonless nights towards the end of July. Skygazing for this meteor shower is a bit better in the Southern Hemisphere, but can still be quite visible in the southern United States. 

The same skygazing rules that apply to pretty much all space-watching activities are key this month: Go to a dark spot away from the lights of a city or town and let the eyes adjust to the darkness for about a half an hour. 

The post Catch a Buck Moon, luminous Venus, and more in the sky this July appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Date Event

April showers may bring May flowers, but this spring has several meteor showers in store. Between April’s Lyrid meteor shower, the official announcement of NASA’s Artemis II astronauts, and a particularly strange “hybrid” eclipse, it’s a pretty exciting time to be a space cadet. The celestial excitement continues this month–especially around May 5–as the weather warms up and skygazing at night becomes a bit more comfortable. Here are some events to look out for and if you happen to get any stellar sky photos, tag us and include #PopSkyGazers.

May 4 and 5- Full Flower Moon

The Full Flower moon reaches peak illumination at 1:36 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 5. The moon will be below the horizon and in daylight at this time, so the best bet is to take a look on the nights of May 4 and 5. The name Flower Moon is in reference to May’s blooms when flowers are typically most abundant in the Northern Hemisphere. 

May’s full moon is also called the Budding Moon or Zaagibagaa-giizis in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe, the Summer Moon or Upinagaaq in Inupiat, and the Dancing Moon or Tahch’ahipu in Tunica, the language of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.

May 5 and 6- Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Following April’s total solar eclipse, May will see a penumbral lunar eclipse. Here, the moon will pass deep into the counterpart of planet Earth’s shadow, known as a penumbra. It will be the deepest penumbral eclipse until September 2042. This kind of eclipse is very subtle and those in the regions that can see it will most likely notice that the moon appears a little bit darker, as long as the night skies are clear. 

People living in Asia, Australia, Europe, and Africa will have the best chance of seeing this event.  

May 5 and 6- Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower

We were not kidding when we said that May 5 is a big day for celestial events! The Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower is expected to peak on May 5 and 6, where roughly 10 to 30 meteors per hour can be seen. Eta Aquarid meteors are known to be speed demons, with some traveling at about 148,000 mph into the Earth’s atmosphere. These fast meteors can leave behind little incandescent bits of debris in their wake called trains. 

This meteor shower is usually active between April 19 and May 28 every year, peaking in early May. It’s radiant, or the point in the sky where the meteors appear to come from, is in the direction of the constellation Aquarius and the shower is named for the constellation’s brightest star, Eta Aquarii. It is also one of two meteor showers created by the debris from Comet Halley.

The Eta Aquarids are visible in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres just before dawn, but the Southern Hemisphere has a better chance of seeing more of the Eta Aquarids.

May 27-30- Lāhaina Noon

This twice a year event in the Earth’s tropical region is when the sun is directly overhead around solar noon. At this point, upright objects do not cast shadows. It happens in May and then again in July.

According to the Bishop Museum, in English, the word “lāhainā” can be translated as “cruel sun,” and is a reference to severe droughts experienced in that part of the island of Maui in Hawaii. An older term in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is “kau ka lā i ka lolo,” which means “the sun rests upon the brain” and references both the physical and cultural significance of the event

May 29- Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation

The planet Mercury will reach its greatest separation from the sun in late May and into June. It may be difficult to see from the United States, but is expected to reach this point in pre-dawn hours beginning on May 29. 

The same skygazing rules that apply to pretty much all space-watching activities are key this month: Go to a dark spot away from the lights of a city or town and let the eyes adjust to the darkness for about a half an hour. 

The post Here’s what you can expect to see in the night sky throughout May appeared first on Popular Photography.

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When you think of planets with rings, Saturn normally takes the cake for its iconic icy spirals. But, Saturn isn’t the only planet in our solar system that the universe put a ring on. As a matter of fact, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) just capture the clearest view of Neptune’s rings in over 30 years.

A fresh view of Neptune’s rings

“It has been three decades since we last saw these faint, dusty rings, and this is the first time we’ve seen them in the infrared,” said Heidi Hammel, a Neptune system expert and interdisciplinary scientist for Webb, in a press release.

In 1989, NASA’s Voyager 2 became the first spacecraft to observe Neptune during its late 80’s flyby. Now, JWST has taken this crisp image of the planet’s rings—some of which have not been detected since that mission over three decades ago. The photo clearly shows Neptune’s finer bands of dust, in addition to the bright and narrow rings.

Neptune is an ice giant due to the chemical makeup of the planet’s interior. When compared with the solar system’s gas giants (Jupiter and the more famously ringed Saturn), Neptune is much richer in elements that are heavier than hydrogen and helium.

Where’s the blue?

Related: Cosmic cartwheels, Webb captures the chaos of a galactic collision

JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) can see space objects on a different light spectrum called the near-infrared range. This means that Neptune doesn’t appear blue in the pictures the NIRCam takes. “The planet’s methane gas so strongly absorbs red and infrared light that the planet is quite dark at these near-infrared wavelengths, except where high-altitude clouds are present,” according to NASA. These methane-ice clouds show up as bright streaks and spots, which reflect sunlight before begin absorbed by the methane gas. The Hubble Space Telescope and the W.M. Keck Observatory have also recorded these rapidly changing cloud features.

Astronomers suspect that the thin line of brightness circling the planet’s equator could be a sign that there is atmospheric circulation that fuels Neptune’s winds and storms. It glows at infrared wavelengths more than the surrounding cooler gases because the atmosphere drops down and warms at Neptune’s equator.

It takes Neptune 164 Earth years to orbit the sun, so its northern pole is just out of view for astronomers. However, the JWST images show a possible brightness up there. JWST can see a previously-known vortex at Neptune’s southern pole, but a continuous band of high-latitude clouds surrounding it was revealed for the first time in these images.

The 14 moons of Neptune

Related: The James Webb Space Telescope’s first 5 images deliver stunning views of the universe

JWST also captured pictures of seven of Neptune’s 14 known moons (Galatea, Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Proteus, Larissa, and Triton). Neptune’s large and “unusual” moon Triton dominates this portrait of the planet, creating a point with diffraction spikes that make it look like a star. Triton is covered in a frozen sheen of condensed nitrogen and it reflects 70 percent of the sunlight that hits it. It is much brighter than Neptune in this image because the planet’s atmosphere is darkened by methane absorption when seen at these near-infrared wavelengths. Since Triton orbits Neptune in an unusual retrograde orbit (aka backward), astronomers believe that this moon may have originally been a Kuiper belt object that Neptune used its gravity to capture. Studies of both Triton and Neptune by JWST are planned for the coming year.

Since the first documented discovery of Neptune in 1846, Neptune has long fascinated scientists. Compared to Earth, it’s 30 times farther from the sun. It orbits in the remote, dark region of the outer solar system, where the sun is so small and faint that high noon on Neptune is similar to a dim twilight on Earth.

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