The parade of planets and meteor shower

12-13 August shortly after sunset on the western horizon you can admire a real parade of planets at the head of the Moon. The last three months of the evening, many have noticed over the western horizon a bright star. This is not really a star and the planet Venus - the brightest object after the Moon Night Sky. Venus is now moving toward the sun, and soon it will end the evening visibility. But even before that happens, people are not indifferent to the starry sky will be able to see how the Venus meets with three other planets and the Moon.

Narrated by an amateur astronomer, author of ' Observations of the sky with binoculars and a telescope ' Edward Vazhorov:.

- The 12th, and best of all, of course, on August 13 will be seen a rare astronomical phenomenon - just after sunset, we can see the moon close to the four brightest planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn. It's easy to see Venus, and next to it can be seen with the naked eye, the other bright planets. In the binocular field of view fall into three planets: Venus, Mars and Saturn, and Mercury is the closest to the Sun. And in the August 13 close to the Moon. Then it will gradually withdraw from this area. But as a benchmark from 12 to 14 August, you can use the Moon.

Parade of the planets visible to the naked eye, but to find in the twilight sky, Mercury, need utmost attention and great vision. There is even a legend that Nicholas Copernicus in his life since has never failed to see it. August 12 The Moon and the planets Mercury, will greatly facilitate the search for. Additional brink of a rare astronomical phenomenon revealed by using binoculars. Edward continues Vazhorov:.

- Even in a small pair of binoculars can be seen in the presence of Saturn's rings and bright satellite Titan. Titan - a very interesting object, since there is found the atmosphere and even the lake. In binoculars, preferably with a greater multiplicity of, well, for example, a 15 -fold, you will see the phases of Venus. Now it phase 0.5, ie the visible half of Venus.

The moon during the parade of planets will be visible in the form of a thin crescent. And soon she did go down, so as not to interfere with the observations of the night. After all, the night of 12 on August 13 we are waiting for a spectacular meteor shower Perseids. It will be visible on the opposite side of the sky - in the east and south - in the second half of the night, says Edward Vazhorov:.

- In the second half of the night on Earth will see the most anticipated, perhaps, the phenomenon of the summer - a maximum of Perseid meteor shower. This year we have new moon on August 10, and Moon, unlike last year, will not interfere with observations. Meteor shower will be visible throughout the night, but the maximum activity is expected in the second half of this morning, beginning sometime from 3:30 to Moscow for a couple of hours before sunrise. It should expect up to 100 meteors per hour.

- Do you need some tools for observing meteors?.

- It is better to look to the naked eye, coming away from city lights. Typically, meteors are big enough, and even in sight of a meteor full of binoculars will not fit. Radiant - a place in heaven, from which the meteors fly out, there is close to the star Eta Persei, which is called the Worlds. But it's best not to look radiant, and at a distance of 40-50 degrees away from the radiant to see the most brilliant meteors.

- The meteors called falling stars. But what they represent in reality? .

- Of course, this is not the stars, comets are remnants of the dying. From time to time, the Earth crosses the orbit of the disintegrating comet and the dust condensation occurs with. Dust particles entering the Earth's atmosphere burn at about 100 kilometers and form in the sky for a short moment of bright glowing band. Perseids meteor shower associated with Comet Swift - Toutle. The orbital period of - 130 years. Now she has passed the sun and leaves the solar system. So, in principle, the meteor shower will gradually weaken.

- So, in the evening on August 12 you can watch the parade of planets. And in the early morning hours of that night - Perseid meteor shower. Between these two events will be a break of several hours. Edward, you are the author of the observations the sky with binoculars and telescopes. The book, incidentally, is laid out for free on the Internet. What advice do you look at the sky in mid- August night?.

- Through binoculars you can see a lot of. I would like to remind you that in August the Russians the most favorable climatic conditions in terms of days to observe the sky: the nights are warm, and they are already quite dark, the White Nights season ends. So what should come away from city lights, it's best to go for 30-40 miles, for example, to the cottage, bring a pair of binoculars, star charts, and if you have a laptop, you can install the software on it, a planetarium, for example, free .

First of all, it's best to walk along the Milky Way, because it is particularly well observed in August. Through binoculars you will see how rich stars, the Milky Way. You can see, for example, the star cloud in the constellation of the Shield, it is very rich in stars. Particularly interesting is the failure to look at the dark stars to the south of Deneb ( Alpha Cygni ). This is a dusty nebula that separates the constellation Cygnus into two parts, it is also called the Northern Coal Sack.

You can also go down below, if you are in the southern part of Russia and see the dust nebulae and open clusters in the constellation of Sagittarius and Scorpio. In the constellation of Sagittarius is the center of the galaxy - the same galaxy in which we live. In addition, clearly visible constellations ' Summer Triangle ': Lear, The Eagle and the Swan, as well as the constellation next to them: Dragon, Hercules, Serpent, Ophiuchus, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and all objects that are located.

It is, for example, pay attention to the globular cluster M13, located between the stars, this and zeta Herculis. This is one of the brightest globular clusters, that is, thickening of the many thousands of stars, which is clearly visible in binoculars. However, some stars in it are visible only in a small telescope or binoculars powerful enough. Objects a lot, I recommend getting some astronomical calendar or here to read my book and what objects can be seen in the summer. And walk on them with binoculars - you'll get an unforgettable experience.

Unfortunately, in recent times due to fires, not all regions of Russia have the opportunity to study the night sky. But the dependence on the weather has always been the lot of astronomers, the earth observer. Let's hope that by the end of the week the weather will allow us to see the pending bright astronomical event - a parade of planets and the Perseid meteor shower.





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