2023-07-17 15:10:04
To find it, it will be necessary to observe the western horizon and flush out this rather luminous point of magnitude 0 there. The easiest thing is to observe it around July 25, 26, because not only will it reach its greatest height on the horizon , but in addition it will not be far from Venus which, each evening, will be a little lower. We can also see it, on the evening of July 19, under a lunar crescent which will also be accompanied by Venus and the planet Mars. Mercury is, I remind you, a rocky planet regarding 50 million km from the Sun. It looks quite similar to the Moon, but is larger with a diameter of regarding 5,000 km. As it is very close to the Sun, it is over 400°C in the sun but, as there is no atmosphere, the temperature can reach -180°C in the shade. We are impatiently awaiting 2025 for the European probe Bepi Colombo to enter orbit around Mercury.
Other planets to observe
We will see better and better the two queens of the planets, Jupiter and Saturn. At the end of July and beginning of August, it will be necessary to wait for the middle of the night to clearly see Saturn high on the horizon in the constellation of Aquarius and the second part of the night to observe Jupiter in the right conditions between the Constellation of Taurus and Pisces. Note two nice reconciliations on August 3 and 4 between the Moon and Saturn, and on August 8 between the Moon and Jupiter. You will also be able to see the planet Venus once more in the early morning from September 3, with a nice rapprochement between the Moon and Venus on September 12. Among the nice connections not to be missed, I also recommend July 28 with a nice duet between the Moon and the star Antares of the Constellation of Scorpio.
The month of August will be like every year the month of shooting stars
And this year will be particularly beautiful because the maximum of the famous shooting stars of the Perseids will take place on the night of August 12 to 13 at a time when the Moon will be very little visible. You should therefore have a particularly dark sky to observe dozens of shooting stars per hour. As a reminder, at this time of year, the Earth passes through a vast cloud of cometary dust left by comet Swift Tuttle. Each shooting star is no bigger than a pea returning at the phenomenal speed of 210,000 km/h and then causing a beautiful luminous trail. The Perseids swarm is only visible overnight because the Earth enters the dust cloud around July 17 and will come out around August 24. We should therefore have beautiful shooting stars during the next two months!
See you in September?
I remind you that a new astronomical telescope is once once more put into play thanks to our partners SSVI and RFI. To participate, send on our page Facebook Astronomy Africa your most beautiful photos or videos or even a nice text that you have written. The winner will be announced on October 15. Good observations. Good heavens to all and remember the sky is the biggest screen, just look up.
1689607947
#African #skies #Bye #Venus #Mercury
