The Moon and Saturn come to opposition this week, showing us their full sunlit faces. Jupiter looms big late in the night, Vega attains the zenith, and we cross the midpoint of summer. The Perseid meteors get partly mooned out. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 5 – 13 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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August: Saturn & the Perseids
August marks the return of the Perseid meteor shower — and as you’re looking out for shooting stars while listening to this month’s Sky Tour podcast, look for Saturn low in the southeast as soon as night begins to fall. The post August: Saturn & the Perseids appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreThis Week’s Sky at a Glance, July 29 – August 6
As the Big Dipper dips and the Guardians of the Pole align one over the other, Saturn looms low in the southeast and the False Comet teases at its highest. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 29 – August 6 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreSolving an Earthshine Mystery
Something we take for granted about the crescent Moon’s appearance may be nothing more than an optical illusion. The post Solving an Earthshine Mystery appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreThis Week’s Sky at a Glance, July 22 – 30
Bright Arcturus is still pretty high after dark, but as summer progresses, it moves down the western side of the evening sky. Its pale ginger-ale tint always helps identify it. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 22 – 30 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreSee a Rare Transit of Iapetus on July 17–18
It’s tiny. It’s challenging. But you won’t get the chance to see Iapetus transit the globe of Saturn again until 2037! The post See a Rare Transit of Iapetus on July 17–18 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreThis Week’s Sky at a Glance, July 8 – 16
July is Scorpius season. Maybe you know of the Cat’s Eyes in the Scorpion’s tail, but how about the Little Cat’s Eyes in the Scorpion’s body? The Sagittarius Teapot follows not far behind. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 8 – 16 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreTitan Occults a Bright Star, Mira Awakens, and Comet PanSTARRS Shines
Pick one or see them all. July offers a potpourri of celestial events for both naked-eye observers and telescope users that include a rare occultation by Saturn’s moon Titan, a bright comet, and Mira at maximum. The post Titan Occults a Bright Star, Mira Awakens, and Comet PanSTARRS Shines appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreThis Week’s Sky at a Glance, July 1 – 9
The Moon waxes across the evening sky from Leo to Scorpius. The five-planet lineup in the dawn is now four. And amateur astronomers plan to be recording as Saturn’s hazy moon Titan occult a star about as bright as Titan itself for most of North America. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 1 – 9 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreJuly: Stars of the Summer Sky
July offers lots of pretty stars and constellations to check out, and you’ll get a personally guided tour of them by downloading this month’s Sky Tour astronomy podcast. The post July: Stars of the Summer Sky appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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